The Oddest, Oldest Clay

at seven, my father put wings in my hair and said "fly",

the sun sleeps in the river, less is known, stars are akin,

the absolution of light is alluring, leading

so, I blind the windows with fallen wax

let the sky conceal its flames

the soul in me is a wounded bird,

you're the ripped feather,

one last flight, I'd crash in

on my knees, as my hands become your hands,

in a familial mimicry

let me earn my finger's dirt,

let me burn the oil of my heart,

there's cement in my hair,

yet I am nothing like those carvings

in his gardens,

greet me the sisters

from their hair stars dust,

oak tree eyes to mark the age,

the sentience it brings,

they whisper

let the rocks behold, let the rocks be seen

no flies on you,

yet you thaw as honey

besides them, the brother

his palm of pearls, "take one"

a souvenir of the sea,

we never drowned in, merely haunted

finger meets finger meets finger

the study of the hand,

the creator is the destroyer in seek of redemption

utter most completeness in their gaze,

you've given them your eyes,

yet I am left to lo with mine

the clay of their cheeks, the cut of their nose

the serene excruciation of

this rose taupe scene

the sun drinks their golden glow...

"Leave me not, my sisters, brother, the bones

in me are yours, stone"

A voice came entwined with others,

veiled in chiffon, the finest words, whispers in my walls

fate is a softer word for tragedy,

A child of the sculptor, the oddest, oldest clay

with wet hands,

every glance birthed a face

the flesh among concrete,

with a wet touch none could be made so,

not without decimation,

not without a flaw.

Tasbhiha Naji, a Pakistani poet, who found her path to poetry through the exploration of alternate artistic mediums including lyric, songwriting. It was sooner than later that it became evident how compelling she found the craft of storytelling and there was always more to say. She currently occupies the position of a staff poetry writer at Vellichor Literary Magazine as well as pursuing her other artistic endeavors which include sketching, singing, collaging and even woolgathering at times, in addition to that she is as of now also working on her debut novella "Grief People".