Henna

Henna

By

Matt McGuire

I come from the cities
Of the plain long tresses
Blackest ebony eyelets
Embers glowing softly
The music of the night
Saibaba sings somnolent
The memory of my man
Keeps me whole while
The Turkish tyrant
Reaves my soul for
A rupee and a rose
Rend my flesh
For the butcher
Leave my saffron
Remains for the carrion
Foul flesh eaters
Fur lined gloves glaze
Garrulous and gabardine
A peasant queen Saharan
Majesty and the flower
Of his eye no more
I say nothing and endure
Like the cancer my
Life has become
Sable veil values
My loins for coin
No longer
My tears
Are the constant
Companion of the
Eunuchs
Deaf blind
Beggars dumb
Damned damsel
Delinquent poison
Prolongs my pretty
Suicidal picturesque
Existence in this one
Room hell east of
The spires of the risen
Christ and south
Of the Mason
Dixon.