The Pearl that Broke Its Shell

by Nadia Hashimi

“There’s a legend that walking under a rainbow changes girls

into boys and boys into girls."

We drank in spirits and played in fields Enamored of Indigos, saffrons and teals There was fog in the space Between them and I Colors reach to touch God in the sky I envy the arc, stretched strong

and wide As one brilliance blends into another Colors bow deeply to welcome a brother We humble servants, meekly pass under Rostam’s bow changes girl to boy, makes one the other Until the airgrows dry and tires of the game And the mist opens its arm...

you know what they say about the human spirit? It is harder than a rock and more delicate than a flower petal.”

There is some kiss we want with our whole lives, The touch of Spirit on the body. Seawater begs the pearl to break its shell. And the lily, how passionately it needs some wild Darling! At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come And press its face against mine. Breathe into me.