Delivery
Poems
Khaled KE Mahmoud
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Published by
Khaled KE Mahmoud on Smashwords
Delivery © 2012 Khaled KE Mahmoud
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
About the author
Khaled KE Mahmoud writes poetry and fiction in English, French, and Arabic. His first book of poetry (El Foraq) was published in Egypt. Some of his poems written in French and English have appeared in Reporter Junior and Poemata magazines. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. He currently lives and works in New York City.
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For more information on the author
http://khaledkem.net
Twitter: @KhaledKEM
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Contents
Delivery
The pillow
My kitchen
Magic
Cut and Dry
A fork and a knife
Time difference
A face
Geometry
A few reasons why I am breaking up with you
Desire
Fall of a month
A wish
The white coat
Open your mouth
A taste of ourselves
I love you
Evidence
Unseen
Request
A drop of rain-
Dreaming, I encountered wind
Delivery
The honest wind delivers ashes to a tulip.
The somber tulip delivers nectar to a bee.
The exhausted bee delivers income to a family.
The rural family delivers convenience to a Jinni.
The talented Jinni delivers magic to a body.
The curved body delivers blood to a face.
The clotted face delivers seed to soil.
The torrid soil delivers milk to a tree.
The loose tree delivers shade to a spirit.
The aged spirit delivers secrets to a stranger.
The trusted stranger delivers a package to you.
Burned… I deliver you to the wind.
The pillow
My queen size bed with two pillows
the top one for my dreams
the lower one for my head
I have always slept on my right side
facing the sunset, the whales, a wish,
the fish boats, and the Japanese islands
dreaming west
absolute west
I came across her in one of those dreams
I brought her to my bed
I gave her the top pillow and half of my sleep
I learned how to turn on my left side
facing the sunrise, the heat, her eyes,
the desert, and the great pyramid
dreaming east
absolute east
One night after a volcanic argument
I asked for my pillow
she left for another dream
Since then
I lie sleepless on the equatorial line
facing my back
My kitchen
I throw out the frozen meat,
the expired ideas,
the rotten relationships and many leftovers.
I keep the green heart,
the fresh mind,
the juice of life and sweet memories.
I wipe the sink, the stove, and the floor with my sleeves.
I dust the Chinese teacups I inherited from a garage sale.
I apologize to the silver spoons I never touched.
I separate the vinegar and the oil from their rusted set.
They have been standing side to side for years
but they never cared for each other.
I bring down the cleaver from its rack
shinning there in pride amongst relatives of sharp knives.
I put them to rest in the lower drawer of the cabinet-