green as spring
as mint leaves
swirling in dark
red
green
black
I want no flags
in my tea no fags
in my teeth
يا بدوى
swirl me around,
I want to dance
with my country
give her a dress whatever
she likes whatever fits
or doesn’t
أنا لا أتمنيت
ولا قلت
يا ريت
but I will come back
with all the paper
you can possibly
imagine we will fold
them into every story
we’ve ever needed
hang them like فوانيس
on a cold Ramadan
night