Q & A | 2015

dedicated to Jean Assy



my mother told me that

the lavender pot

she placed

in her garden

had to be moved

from its current location

as the conditions were not

suitable

for its growth;

 

meanwhile,

my partner and I

quizzed each other

to test our love:

 

“preferred color?”

 “pinkish-black”

“mine?”

“lavender”

“future spider’s name?”

“Lola”

“future cat’s name?”

“Bayern”

 

I close my eyes

tingled

with the sensation

of beard

caressing my cheek

and earlobe.

 

“my favorite writer?”

“me, of course”

-a pause-

“ok fine, Bukowski”

 

“my favorite programming language?”

“Java?”

I open my eyes

and watch

his smile

vanish

“PHP”

“the amount of nail-polishes I own?”

“20?”

I close my eyes again.

“40”

 

I am back in the garden

with my mother

as she is

insisting

her potted-plant

must be

provided with the

necessary conditions

to flourish.

 

“now if the plant’s roots

extended beyond its pot

and formed

networks

in the soil

that’s where the real problem is”

 

baffled, I inquire:

“despite it being confined to a pot?”

 

“Of course,” she explains.

“once the roots are formed,

you will not be able

to move the plant

somewhere new

anymore-

the connection would be

too strong

to separate.”

 

I shiver

as the

pleasure pricks

return-

“Tell me why I’m a political activist,”

he whispers-

his breathing slower,

warmer this time.

I reply:

“Tell me why I write.”

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