Day disappeared from the shallows:
I asked for it back; my soft lines
in your hard shell. Touch is frantic
Everything you think you gave me
duplicates in circles
and holds hierarchy
Unknowingly I taught myself magic
during five-minute breaks while
you smoked to soothe your soul
Look closely
We are pacing ourselves
and almost horizontal in these rare
moments; while you sleep
I memorize your names
SALMA SAADI is a Canadian social worker and writer. She is passionate about immigrant and refugee rights and telling stories about oppression, strength and resilience. She has completed a three month writing residency at Artscape Gibraltor Point on the Toronto Islands and has spent three months writing in Berlin at the artist residency Takt Kunstprojektraum. She is currently working on her first novel.
