Gypsy Heart

Michelle McGrane

Last night she visited, this
dark-skinned desert witch.
Heavy-lidded eyes beckoned,
glittering out of sockets.
Lost, I followed, through
dark labyrinths, as she,
dusky siren, chanted
spiralling
spells.

In a feet-stamping frenzy,
whirling light lassoes
around oasis dunes,
tousled hair tumbling
over bare shoulders, the
winds of Arabia rising
in my veins. Heady perfume:
saffron, sandal, henna, attar*,
teeth flashing fierce stars,
I hold the world
in outstretched arms.

Silver bells jingle-jangling,
ankles, wrists, undulating hips,
twin pomegranates thrust forward
to the thrumming melody of
pear-shaped ud*. Kicking up
heels, flicking skirts,
cavorting through desert dawn:
pale scimitar moon, sand, wind,
and stars, the magic caravan
recedes.

I wake heart hammering
hard breathing to cloying attar
sweat-stained pillow, damp hair
plastered to my head,
her hot breath blows
from farover mountains,

billowing
bedroom
curtains, into this

ordinary
room…



*attar: fragrant essential oil esp. from rose petals (Persian 'atar from Arabic 'itr 'perfume')
*ud: short-necked lute with four or more pairs of strings and a wooden soundboard from which the European lute derived its form and name

LitNet: 3 December 2004

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