We sat in her room on her bed With her things spread All around us little memories Gifts collected over decades Sarees, shawls, sunglasses A wooden box with an elephant head Her granddaughters, grown women Take turns choosing their favorites The youngest gets the first pick Each one eyes the one they want An…

Half inside half outside This shisha café On Church Street Middle eastern couches Middle eastern men Middle eastern music Middle eastern soccer On Korean TV Under a plastic canopy A woman sits in a black hijab By the plastic window The sound of heavy November rain Bouncing of plastic roof Competes with loud Arabic tunes…

He sat for long with folded knees Contemplating loops no birds no bees White walls grey desk humming PCs Polite as a mouse Bosses to please Meetings about meetings Vision strategies Conformance training HR policies Morale events designed to appease Corporate values What the fuck are these? He stood up today to ask the trees Can someone please Can someone please move my cheese!