Photo by Alexey Demidov
sara
Layla Al-Sadoon
god created my virtues in a bathtub
there was no choice but to obey the water of my body
do you have faith if you live underneath dead skin
the heels of my feet ache to run
achilles comes to mind but
i won’t say his name
in case my mother understands the reference
or i have the urge to write
about issues that burn my tongue
delicately figured to discuss in front of wrong crowds
sara came into my life exactly when i needed her to
she brought with her a lie carefully tied to match her baggage
long black hair caressed over her shoulder
like everything about her was careful
in one moment i found that i was scared to touch her
i lurked around her bedroom door
she wouldn’t open it for anyone she wouldn’t hold my hand when i asked her softly
too careful too splinted too reckless of me
sara grew my virtue beneath the filtered sounds of bells
sara flickered when she spoke
she never said anything too harsh
i never knew what i wanted until sara took it away from me
i think i still have visions of her carefully configuring
wake up in sweats try to remember i shouldn’t be afraid
of her
or who she stands for
Layla Al-Sadoon
god created my virtues in a bathtub
there was no choice but to obey the water of my body
do you have faith if you live underneath dead skin
the heels of my feet ache to run
achilles comes to mind but
i won’t say his name
in case my mother understands the reference
or i have the urge to write
about issues that burn my tongue
delicately figured to discuss in front of wrong crowds
sara came into my life exactly when i needed her to
she brought with her a lie carefully tied to match her baggage
long black hair caressed over her shoulder
like everything about her was careful
in one moment i found that i was scared to touch her
i lurked around her bedroom door
she wouldn’t open it for anyone she wouldn’t hold my hand when i asked her softly
too careful too splinted too reckless of me
sara grew my virtue beneath the filtered sounds of bells
sara flickered when she spoke
she never said anything too harsh
i never knew what i wanted until sara took it away from me
i think i still have visions of her carefully configuring
wake up in sweats try to remember i shouldn’t be afraid
of her
or who she stands for