The war usually attends any wedding in my town.
Lovers become prepared and well trained to dance with her.
She sits quiet when they are kissing each other.
Sometimes, the war smiles when they promise each other an endless love.
This war is domesticated,
and lovers learn to enjoy after washing dust off.
They go on honeymoon after she returns home.
Rana Jaafar Yaseen is an Iraqi-American poet and artist who has published seven books of poetry and short fiction in Arabic in the Middle East, including Seduction Has Its Own Dictionaries, and You Have the Possibilities of the White (Cairo, 2013). She is also a television personality, with more than ten years of production experience. Since arriving in Virginia in 2013, she has taught herself English and is now also writing poetry in this new language. She is interested in human rights, supporting vulnerable communities, peace building, dignity, and healing.
In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, Virginia Poet Laureate Luisa A. Igloria presents a poem a day from Virginia poets.
