FAIROUZ STANDS ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND PUSHES ME OFF

 
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i carry            el hawa    ilkhlas
in bursts, arms full  

to recite salvation      must be done in steps
rinse in      mayt warde then
dip body into sukar       or zate zeytune
teen to grow wild gardens    in mouth
na’na’   bursting at the seams       of waistline
el teeni wa zeytune
 
i carry            el hawa    ilkhlas
in bursts, womb full

of blood, exile — condemned
push, habeebti          legs spread
exile el hawa          is this holy enough
for them now?   
thighs a new skin        is this where i am
holy?

ya fairouz, el hawa, ya fairouz
has not carried me home      or into love
     ya fairouz, ya fairouz, ya fairouz
el hawa has only made me lost             too many times
to count, ya fairouz, ya fairouz, ya fairouz

should i climb       el jabal and free fall?
   tell me if the mountain wind is kinder, ya fairouz

______
TEXT:
LEENA ABOUTALEB
UNITES STATES

ART:
SARAH AHMED
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES/
YEMEN