October 08, 2012
A Poem
WEDDING PROPOSALS
I.
She
circles the room,
the
two men cross-legged
on
woven flowers,
her
kohl-lined eyes downcast
to
the fringe
of
their shining loafers
the
fluted foot
of
a samovar, henna
petals
on her toes.
“Look,
my child has no flaws,
no
need to give ear to rumors,”
her
father tells the intended
father-in-law
who’s
in Srinagar for the viewing
months
before the wedding.
Intended
father-in-law
shakes
her father’s hand
deal-sealed.
He
gives her filigreed silver
wedged
heels with pointed tips
too
big for the girl she was
bunions not yet formed.
--March 1938
For my grandfathers’, experts des objects d’ art.
II.
Again
I ease her palm into mine
We
stroll on the beach
Frangipani
petals
Rushlight
of dusk
Inks
of her sarong
My
bruised jeans
Gods
on horses
Spark
the horizon
It’s
a sign I know
What
sign?
I
want you to be my wife
Ask
me again—she jolts me
And
again her gritty palm is mine
Bending
a knee I ask
Will
every flower from Kenya
to
Kashmir bloom?
--March 1998
For Tabish Din, again.
by Rafiq Kathwari, guest poet at 3 Quarks Daily
Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 12:25 AM | Permalink
Comments
Cause every flower blooms when watered with such unreasonable love...Even in Kashmir.
The embroidery of your words is of exquisite quality, thank you Rafiq
Posted by: rosenda meer | Oct 9, 2012 1:21:44 AM
beautiful!
Posted by: amy | Oct 9, 2012 3:34:43 PM
Beautiful word smith you are, my dear. ".. sitting cross legged on woven flowers : superb. BUT, but I question the context. Father-in-law comes for the viewing? Not in Kashmir.
Posted by: Rafique A Khan | Oct 9, 2012 3:56:50 PM
lovely! Such contrast in such economy.
Posted by: SMQ | Oct 9, 2012 4:57:30 PM
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