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Yalda
Noticing
Every time I come to the book shop
I see her
mysterious, quiet
the girl with smokey green almond eyes
her hair a deep brown, falling smooth and straight, ends brushing her shoulders
She doesn't seem to notice me
her lips part softly, her eyes swimming in her cup of tea,
its steam rises against her chin
The sky outside is dark, grey
the distant ocean like black mud
from the book shop window
She captivates me
We need to talk
have a conversation.
but not now.
Introductions
She is here again today
her dress decorated with Taj Mahal and tigers, a light blue
There is an empty seat across from her
I take it
she doesn't look
the cover of her book is painted with constellations
What's that book you're reading?
A book about witchcraft, and astrology
It's interesting.
I see you here a lot.
I see you here, too.
What's your name?
Yalda.
Yalda.
A strange name for a strange girl
or is she perfectly ordinary?
We read quietly
I steal glances at her
Her bangs hide her eyebrows
she has freckles that I haven't noticed before
Unnoticable from afar
We read
and look
Almost every day after this
we see each other
We talk and smile
Yalda blushes
her smile wide
her teeth bright
Almond eyes sparkle
Do you want to go out?
I ask one day
Yes.
Beach
We meet not at a restaurant
we go to the beach
Yalda's shirt is a tangle of constellations
a heavy gold necklace sits around her neck
black pants and tan sandals
We walk down the beach
the stars reflect off the sea
the moon shines off her cheekbones
perfect cheekbones
dark red lips shine in the moonlight
big, wide eyes move along the beach
we reach the end
where the sand turns to rock
She swings around and runs
Runs along the beach, kicking up sprays of sand
sand clings to the ends of her pants
Almond eyes turn to me
she stops
takes my hand
It is soft, comfortable, smooth
Perfect red lips meet mine
dark brown bangs touch my forehead
is it love?
Year Together
We spend every day together
at the book shop, at her house
into the summer
we spend days laying on her hardwood floor
being washed by the sun
hands together
Summer fades to fall
we walk hand in hand through the orange and yellow
Yalda's neck hidden by scarves
cold wind blowing through the leaves
Fall turns into dark, long winter
the sky is grey
the days are short
and the nights are long
but it gives me more time to hold her
more time to love her
the ocean always looks like mud now
the clouds hide the sun during the day
the constellations shine down at night
we spend cold nights out together
her favorite constellation is Cassiopeia
It's mine now, too
Yalda is still dark
mysterious
her thoughts hidden from me in a dark black haze
I love her,
Yalda.