Poem of A Lonely $oul
Written by Sabina England
El hombre
seated in my heart
in the lotus position
holding jasmine flowers in his hands
whispering sweet Spanish nothings
into my deaf ears
delicately.
Darling I can’t hear you
I softly weeped
I would suck on your moist lips
while I slid my fingers into you,
he signed in ASL to me.
I blushed
hera ram
I just ate an avocado
Raw, from the shell
I stabbed the fleshy flesh with spoon
peela hara
amarillo verde olive green
like the pistachio barfi
I devoured it
as if Qiyamat had arrived on this day
His dark brown skin
against my light brown skin
My long black hair
wrapped around his torso
as he holds me tight.
My heart
empty
My soul
dead
I feel nothing
El Mexicano
sings in my ears
while I remain deaf,
the chakra in me
burns with Nur.
---
(Originally published on "The American Dream is Dead," September 2012)
"Hombre" = man in Spanish
Lotus flower/position = sacred/cultural symbol popular in India, reminscient of Hindu deities seated on lotus flowers (such as Goddess Laskhmi)
Jasmine = sweet-smelling flowers very popular and widely used in Indian culture
"ASL" = American Sign Language
"Barfi" = Indian sweets made from boiled milk with sugar
"Qiyamat" = Judgement Day (Urdu, used in India and Pakistan)
"Chakra" = energy points in the human body, from Hinduism
"Nur" = sacred light of Allah
