Tuesday Poem by Carl Terver

Musleema

There is a secret letter under your hijab
written in the richest of cursives,
bearing revelations. A fatwa has
been declared on all who seek it

I am a reader, Musleema, and a fan
of letters; I starve for their richness.
And you, Musleema, are now my object
of fandom. I want to . .

Can I see beyond your hijab,
retrieve the letter and dwell on the canon?
I want to tread on the contours of every
cursive till I can write like the letter-
writer, till I know every epiphany they beget

I shall starve still; my longings stop
at the cascades of your hijab, deferred.
Bear revelations, Musleema, that I
may go into a trance with you.

____________

Carl Terver tweets @CarlTerver