PASSIVITY
Two Birds of Paradise
On the Tree of Life
Dazzle the wall above
His king-size bed
He names the female bird
After my cousin Sofia
Heartless tease at fourteen
I too fancy her
Feigning sleep in his bedroom
On a corner chaise
My fingers tremble
Above combed fringes
Perched on a branch
The male yearns for flight
His one-eyed gaze fixed
Upon Grandfather’s hand
Fondling Sofia on the bed
The female flutters in midair
Plumes fanning out
Brilliant madder dyes
by Rafiq Kathwari, guest poet at 3Quarks Daily.