cold, calculated, merciless those perfectly crafted henna designs found online do not carry the heart's desires. Sharp loops, sharp lines, sharp petals of sharp flowers are just- to me- mere marooned glowers. For you don't chat with the henna artists You don't share inside jokes with them they don't hit you and say: "stop moving jahil aurat I'm trying to be dexterous". Only my sister- apia- can do that while she tickles away clumsy patterns on the back of my hand and say: "I need dexterity for in the future I'm practicing dentistry" Only the crimson of her henna designs remind me- that the way I've been in the past few months- is not me and my soul needs to realign back with hers. Only her skillfully amusing- a lot-better-than-her-last-attempted designs of last eid- can convey so much love so much friendship, so much memories so much laughter and inside jokes. She keeps asking me: "why are you laughing?" I'm not laughing at you I'm laughing at me.
@bahishht ©
22 July 2021.