You Bury Me

Arlene Biala

 
Ya'aburnee (Arabic):  "You bury me."  It's a declaration of one's hope that they'll die before another person, because of how difficult it would be to live without them.
 

no harana
no serenade
no let me call you sweetheart 
no dahil sa yo
no courting you
no guitar strum of my nervous fingers
no new moon chance
no smiling neighbors gathering near
no wavering voice in the first verse
no you standing at the window
laughing softly, shaking your head
whispering to your sister beside you
how you were hoping it would be me
no stopping now, i've already started
no way, it's too late, your smile locks me in
no first kiss at the barrio fiesta
after your parents leave for home
no telling you that i love you like no other
no you teasing i am so old fashioned
living the ancient ways of love songs
no you answering my call of your name
after the winds die, after the waters recede
no finding a note. no finding your body.
no you standing in deep mud, shaking
no you suddenly running toward me
no you whispering to me
how you always pray that you will die
before i die, because the suffering
would be unbearable.
no.  i refuse to leave my home.
i want to stay here by the sea
listen to you whisper, bury me
you bury me. 


Originally published in Red Wheelbarrow, December 2013.