i carry el hawa ilkhlas
in bursts, arms full
to recite salvation must be done in steps
rinse in mayt warde then
dip body into sukar or zate zeytune
teen to grow wild gardens in mouth
na’na’ bursting at the seams of waistline
el teeni wa zeytune
i carry el hawa ilkhlas
in bursts, womb full
of blood, exile — condemned
push, habeebti legs spread
exile el hawa is this holy enough
for them now?
thighs a new skin is this where i am
holy?
ya fairouz, el hawa, ya fairouz
has not carried me home or into love
ya fairouz, ya fairouz, ya fairouz
el hawa has only made me lost too many times
to count, ya fairouz, ya fairouz, ya fairouz
should i climb el jabal and free fall?
tell me if the mountain wind is kinder, ya fairouz
______
TEXT:
LEENA ABOUTALEB
UNITES STATES
ART:
SARAH AHMED
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES/
YEMEN