Humming Bird

The gentle buzzing sound echoed memories of a fading childhood When she and her cousin had whispered secrets at the mosque About undying love and first kisses before being stung by a bee ‘Honey, don’t worry they make nectar and ambrosia is sweet’ She had just begun to wear a veil to protect her from luring eyes But passion and adventure were stronger than foreclosing fabric Fatima widened her crimson lips to a smile larger than persimmon Teased dimples on olive skin into a conspicuous feast of desire Almond eyes shone like candle light signals in flickering delight Mustafa was mesmerized and knelt down to show his respect Then held out his hands and touched the hem of her garment ‘Nothing will keep us apart as long as hummingbirds chirp and The eagle in my heart pumps around life meaning and peace’ The two children took a piece of metal and made a blood pact ‘Now we are bound in promise for eternity and infinite joy Maybe our parents will arrange our marriage sealed by a dove’ Now the fizzing in the sky turned into a shadow of fore-bearing Grew loud and too uncomfortable for their young souls to neglect ‘Let it be a falcon with his talons bringing pride stealth and vigour His beak will seal our connection with a pick of mellow salvation’ Impermanence beckoned however when the minaret collapsed Their young lives dissembled into a surreal mirage of illusion The hawk was a steel groomed assassin and bore a serial number Doomed she lay in the rubble catching the dome of the masjid And she was not prostrated in prayer but slain by the drone Mustafa gathered her dissected remains and vowed retribution Mopped up her blood with the veil of lost innocence and revenge Today he drives a Toyota Land Cruiser through the streets of Aleppo Gun barrel on top next to a black flag with white prophecy inscribed The seal of misguided religion will not bring Fatima back into live But he is a victim and dreams that one of the virgins in waiting is her 14th October 2019 Writing Challenge, October, 2019 -Bird- Sponsor, Dear Heart - Wiishkobi Ode ____________________________