The Alchemy of Affection

Perfumed, his breath writes sonnets on supple skin;
places a kiss or two on the forehead, 
this attachment 
is both fiery and tender, 
is intellectual foreplay and deep 
conversation—
I float further down its stream. 

These sombre lashes are brave enough to delve in;
love him when he is lost, 
when he’s dressed in tidal waves, 
there is no pretending—
we tend to draw a straight line  
knowing well that it won’t be perfect, 
eat croissants, 
and the repeat the same the next day; 
such are customs of the world we live in.  

And now it’s Spring once again; 
I think of crocus and darkening of the southern sky, 
observe, the laughter of children 
when the wind  
blows circles around ash trees—
how is it that the hummingbird knows well 
its sheltering bough, 
how is it that the moon knows to shape 
features every night, 
perhaps we will never know, perhaps  
we will never know. 

It’s getting harder and harder for insatiable soul  
to breathe; 
sit still and brood like the clouds in July, 
his heart is a mosque 
that I visit when everything is falling apart— 
cobalt blue 
in its serenity and quietude.  
I am quiet because I am filled to the brim, 
because I am filled to the brim.  
We bloom despite the storms that rage.  

 

 

 

 

Photo credits: Pinterest

Posted for OLN #334 March LIVE Edition @dVerse Poets Pub

28 thoughts on “The Alchemy of Affection

  1. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:

    I love how you start with the passionate part and end with the more quiet togetherness that is what makes a relationship great.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  2. intellectual foreplay

    That’s the best kind, Sanaa <3

    A gorgeous poem…

    Much love,
    David

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ben 😀 so glad the poem and its imagery appealed to you 💄❤️

  3. “love him when he is lost,
    when he’s dressed in tidal waves,
    there is no pretending–”

    “his heart is a mosque
    that I visit when everything is falling apart”

    “We bloom despite the storms that rage.”

    These are my favorite parts. And I love that if I read it backwards starting with the last sentence, it works just as well.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Melissa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  4. Oh, this is gorgeous, Sanaa. Those last 7 lines especially are stunning. One of your best. 💙

    1. Sanaa says:

      That’s so kind of you to say, Merril 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  5. I really enjoyed hearing you read this beautiful poem. This is such a great set of lines:
    These sombre lashes are brave enough to delve in;
    love him when he is lost,
    when he’s dressed in tidal waves,

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  6. Grace says:

    Love the season of spring and that whole last stanza. And also, enjoyed the read today in OLN Live.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Grace 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  7. Helen says:

    You are enchanting ~~~~

    1. Sanaa says:

      ❤️❤️❤️

  8. JIm Feeney says:

    “his heart is a mosque
    that I visit when everything is falling apart—
    cobalt blue
    in its serenity and quietude. ”
    Beautiful metaphor , Sanaa.
    JIM

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Jim 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  9. Brendan says:

    Lovers are passionate in their seeking knowledge and respite in the other – as you say so sweetly here — love being the alembic and most noble metal of that work. Making love last, now that’s for sturdier engineers than poets. The fragrance of the work is what drives the poetry … Anyway, playing with the alchemy you invoke. It wakens and will madden your poems. This is rosy with the fire.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Brendan 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  10. Gillena Cox says:

    Bravo on your reading yesterday Sanaa.

    Much💜love

    1. Sanaa says:

      ❤️❤️❤️

  11. paeansunplugged says:

    Intoxicating write, Sanaa! As always… gorgeous! 💖💖

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  12. Sunra Rainz says:

    “how is it that the moon knows to shape
    features every night,
    perhaps we will never know, perhaps
    we will never know.”

    “I am quiet because I am filled to the brim,
    because I am filled to the brim.
    We bloom despite the storms that rage.”

    A gorgeous sumptuous poem, Sanaa <3 But then, of course it is 🙂 Love the above lines especially.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Sunra 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  13. M Jay Dixit says:

    That ending stanza is superb. Great work, Sanaa 🙏

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Jay 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  14. Ali Grimshaw says:

    This is absolutely beautiful. I especially like the last stanza and these lines, “his heart is a mosque
    that I visit when everything is falling apart—
    cobalt blue
    in its serenity and quietude.”
    Keep shining your light.

    1. Sanaa says:

      That is so kind of you to say, Ali 😀 so glad the poem and its imagery appealed to you 💄❤️

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