Bahrain

the heat burns like tiny daggers of helplessness
biting, gnawing at your skin
even the air suffocates
and an umbrella would look very silly here

we crossed streets without care
loaded with grocery bags filled with cheap supplies
the sun blazes even greater as the hours grow late
little people --- those burly men thought
out of bigotry maybe or, simply, adoration
we will never know
we huffed to our apartment
backs stooped and sweat dripping
a cab would be impractical

before closing the door and
turning on the beloved air conditioner
you sniff for that smell you miss
coconut cream --- so foreign
so far from home
sadly, you close the door
this is your dream, this is reality
live it.