Blanched Bones
by Ily Goldfinger
wings flutter
grey dove walks up
looks me in the eye like he knows me
we rode desert storms together
he says
remember
oasis charred in the bonfire
you held the camel's head
i tore a gash in her throat and we drank
fattened ourselves on roasted meat
rode the blanched bones to the dead sea
hoping to drown our sorrow
knowing we're reborn
forever
but the salt spit us out
flat as boards
floated us into the sun and the sun was no friend
shrank me to a dove
swallowed my words and
made me a mute
took centuries to grow feathers
waiting for you
on this rock
at the dead sea shore
waiting
look you in the eye
see if you remember
what we are
blanched bones floating on a salt sea
every time a thunder claps we look back start over
Ily Goldfinger's poetry has been published in Underground Voice and flashquake. She is based in Dubai, a fascinating city of contrasts and a magnet for expats from around the world. Poetry is her favourite vehicle for self-expression, and she is currently working on her first novel.