Violets at the backdoor

by Bella Fawzi

Identifies with the nation of Egypt

Wandering through market stalls

with strawberry stained palms

chipped nail polish and silky braided hair

raw rose quartz chains

adorning collarbones

while tranquillity is found

in a charming hurricane.

Lights flicker in busy streets

and we are out dancing

living

our reeling senses at a loss;

spots on her face, sprinkles of glory

she’s stuck between my teeth

and I’m glad I’m out of floss.

The full moon has reached

its capacity, leaking

and we look up at Pluto

for approval, while we bury it

silence is no longer an interruption and

as an amber web covers her shoulders

the day is tangible from where we sit.

We drift in the margins

under paper-cut beams of sunlight

that stream softly to us

sharing clementines and philosophies

I thought I was not meant for

the beach, but our sea-side picnics are

the closest I’ve come to serenity.

As we eavesdrop on starlight whispers

I just barely overhear

that regardless of its wake

this could never cause regret

and I am certain of it because

my broken mirror brings good luck

when I hold it up to her silhouette.

Bella Fawzi (Egyptian and Dutch) was born in New York City in 2005, but after quite some travel has now been living in the Netherlands for over 10 years. Bella is a reader, a self proclaimed notes app poet and a 17 year old girl. She is an avid lover of nature, fruit, the moments in the margins, the moon and good conversation. Through her writing she explores youth, betrayal, absence, loss, raw realizations, growth and the multifaceted phenomenon of girlhood.