The Courtesan’s Reply – Tambulasena by Shazea Quraishi
The Courtesan’s Reply – Tambulasena
Shazea QuraishiIn the beginning
my whole body was covered with skin
hard as rock. Then he cameand his mouth was a river
running over me, cool and quick
with small, silver fish.Night after night
he shaped me
and smoothed medown
to my velvet
bones.*
Now, I bathe while he watches,
feel his eyes,
fireflies on my skin.
I bend over,
my hair, a curtain of water
between us.I let him towel me dry,
his strokes soft at first, then brisk,
like a cloth shining a lamp.Water drips down
my back. He grasps the rope
of my hair and climbs.
MARGINALIA
1.
What came before desire? I suppose all I had were my arms wrapped around myself. I suppose for a while I thought that was enough.
2.
Sometimes I forget what life was like before you were in my life. Perhaps in anticipation of your arrival, I was trying to love myself as best I can. Even if my heart was rarely a heart for years and years.
3.
What came before your skin on my skin. Does it matter. Given the chance I will drink from your lips again and again.
endnotes
This poem appeared in Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine, Series 3 No 12. Shared here with profound gratitude.
Read more works by Shazea Quraishi • Find books by this poet • Or view my library
Explore poems in pursuit of: the body • desire • water • Or browse the index
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