honey & lime

Come give me a kiss on the cheek

 

Chulu bhar paani me doob jao: to drown in the water that fits in one’s palm: to be ashamed

 

Hold out your hand, curl fingers to space.

Now turn the tap on. Let water run

 

& run off your lined hand. The slice that runs

parallel to your life line stings a bit. Keep your hand

 

straight so your palm fills with water. Don’t let it

drip. Hold as many drops as you can 

 

& go drown yourself in it. How shameful, 

the dating, the kissing, the fucking. How could you share

 

on Facebook a post supporting abortion? Now everyone

will think you’ve had one. Would you kill

 

god’s creation? Would you? Would you write

his name with a lower-case h? How shameful, the drinking,

 

the smoking, the short skirts & bare shoulders.

See, if you covered your legs it wouldn’t

 

have happened this way. & if you’re going to kiss

a girl, make sure no one knows about it. Is the water

 

still in your palm? Just a few drops. Good, now

you can drown again, the swearing in English, 

the slices of ham behind rennet-free cheese slices,

 

this thought of travelling through Europe

alone. You cut through the men’s section at the masjid

 

now everyone will say look, what a slut. The breathing, 

the eating, the sleeping. Your palm is dry

 

won’t you come home to see me?