Melancholetta

He Said by Wadih Sa'adeh

He Said

He said they were alike,
the basil plant and his mother.
People could never tell the difference between them.
If they said `good morning' to his mother
the basil answered.
If they greeted the basil
his mother answered.

He explained that some veins on her hands
were roots of her plants,
her palms were two leaves,
her eyes were two flowers.
Whenever she walked in a neighbourhood,
the fragrance of fields emanated from her garments.

He said his father and the tree were twins.
If he embraced it,
he was embraced by the tree.
When looking at him, the tree became green.
It turned Yellow if he was ill.
If it was shaken by the wind
he would shiver.

He explained this as he walked
to the door,
rolling a cigarette.
Then he left.

-- Wadih Sa'adeh

posted by Dileepan @ 8:01 PM