METTLE CLOUDS AT LAKE LANGANO

Watching sunsets/mettle clouds at Lake Langano/ an exercise in burning/ endless sunrises

A textured sky/ peppery clouds like grainy static/ the smell of something roasting in the air/ always a fascination with embers/ a child watching popcorn erupt in the microwave just to play God/ just to understand how the sky dances over the lake/ kicking black opal beads for the fire/

If could curl myself into them I would tell the boy/ do not be so afraid of the night/ you are a descendent of Phaethon/ the one who set the desert alight/ burnt sandstorms into your skin so you could walk on whatever shore you find yourself wandering/

Off into the dark/ beady lights blink to the rhythm of boom boxes/ all percussion/ no drums/ skista and popcorn/ limbs contorting like flames to hold back the night/ tell that boy not to fear/ mama/ why do we crack bone out our skin the way the mountains hold up the heavens/ mama/

Sunset is over mama/ we must sleep/ wrap our bodies in white mesh and roll the world over till the sun rises mama/ let me carry you to bed/ forehead crossed in bloodied terracotta/ why are you dancing/ mama/ this is no time to be brave/ to brush shoulders with granite mettle clouds/

Please/ mama/ this is no time at all

FAHAD AL-AMOUDI

Also by Fahad,

LOOKING OVER PITCH 2, EMPTY TUESDAY AFTERNOON

STARING AT KIRSTY’S PAINTING OF THE DRUM TOWER OF BEIJING