“Potential” by Ayesha F. Hamid

September 5, 2017

Will your little hands comparable to
the tapping hands of Handel
be remembered?

Will your young mind comparable
in acumen to Curie flourish?

How much violence deflects and how much
is imbibed by your little, grandiose mind?

Remember that perfect railroad track, your trains
turning the corners of a miniature city?

We both smiled playing but your creation
brought out something unexpected
when we saw a display of his volatile spite.

He kicked the railroad, destroying your city,
your perfect dream came to an end 
as your smiled moved to sobbing, dear, sweet child.

Always remember though that imagination,
like elemental energy, cannot be destroyed
and no matter the destruction
we will wait for the emergence of your genius
as distinct as Da Vinci’s.

One day, you will flower again
with sweet stems outstretched,
absorbing all light, shutting out
any darkness that comes your way.

“A Night in California” by Ayesha F. Hamid

August 29, 2017

The streets are wide, everything is green,
floating in the air, a pervading sense of peace.

I stand in your villa, an open expanse
everywhere the eye can see.

I stroll through open avenues,
I stroll with you, the owner of all this beauty.

Leaving the parameters, we walk down the street
the breeze is just right as flowers fall delicately
pink and white among the lush green.

As we turn the corner, a store surfaces
with everything we need
while neighbors smile warm smiles
chatting with us in Spanish.

We head back, enter through the gates,
returning to finish with preparations
as guests wait.

You’ve worked this day like every other,
so strong, so brave, even on your wedding day.

I guide you to the veranda where we sit for a second
remembering everything that brought you to this moment.
Then, your façade fades as you admit that
life can be difficult, but I hold out my hand 
help you up and send you on your way.

The sun goes down as I join the crowd.
The cool breeze touches my face 
as I wait for you to take the stage.

“Atonement” by Ayesha F. Hamid

July 31, 2017

I searched her face for it
atonement
in her eyes that had seen
a spectrum of scenes over years
her brow which she could have bent
signaling absolution, but she wouldn’t.

The last thing she did give was a reluctant smile
so I thought, maybe she’s coming round
but before I could sit
listen as she told me again
to always hold my head up high
in the world of vultures, redemption, sin
before I could talk to her of mistakes
and regret, her soul fled.

She laid cowering in the end,
a woman who commanded the attention of
rooms, died at night and took with her
any possibility of absolution.

“Heartache” by Ayesha F. Hamid

July 30, 2017

Mid-morning rain runs over windshield
while arms tingle, chest aches.

In the off chance this is a heart attack,
I pull over, turn on the hazards
slouch in the car and wait for death.

Who will find me – an angel
with sleep still in its eyes
who takes time to call for help,
or someone like you,
too selfish to stand or sit,
too busy listening to the whispers
of demons in your own head.

“One by One” by Ayesha F. Hamid

July 29, 2017

Your ashes will sit in a lifeless urn
of dead stone, on a table of dark tone.

Your remains will wait quietly
till you are called back by the One
to be put back together again
to be given back everything
tumors took away
one by one
your body healed, your eyes of soft hue
red blood back, flowing forward and through
so your whole face is lit up again.

Then, resplendence
with the feeling of warming light
without guilt, without pain
when finally one day
we will see you again.

“Passage” by Ayesha F. Hamid

July 25, 2017

When you needed passage, I pulled you into
my burning boat, protecting you from waters
bitterly cold, and in that safety,
I wished we could have stayed always.

but you knew I was a resident of
an already descending day
so you created a considerable space
between you and me, choosing not to see
my forfeited forever, my given eternity.

If only your eyes would have given you away.
Instead, expressionless and opaque, your face stone
as I carried you along, nothing to give, nothing to say,
but still holding on, biding your time
till end of day, waiting for a new dawn.