Wishing Well

Wishing Well
By Nabil Abou Baker
5/18/2010

He stood there – peering down the black abyss,
Unable to see the actual depth of
The water. After staring long enough
He began to see what resembled her,
Her reflection that is, in the water.
He lifted and dropped a round gray stone
Down the well – the bottomless pit. The stone
Never made a sound. It was quietly
Engulfed by the darkness. Though he did
See the stone distort her image for only some
Moments. He placed both his hands in their own
Respective pockets and pulled out a ring
With the right and a coin with the left hand.
He paused and thought and threw the right one.

Trotamundos Café

Trotamundos Café
from Travels
By Nabil Abou Baker
7/21/10

The Plaza de Armas
Is divided by green
Geometric figures,
Split by paths filled with a
Number of different
People – mostly tourists
That could easily be
Spotted from far sitting –
Conversing on dark grass
Tinted benches, taking
Pictures of the buildings –
Cathedral, fountain and
Spanish architecture,
Consisting of arches
And balconies on the
Perimeter of the
Square. Peruvian flags –
Red – white – red – small – coatless
Flags decorated the
Lampposts and restaurants,
But there, in front of the
Cathedral steps – two large
Flags – Peru’s with the coat-of-
Arms and the sole rainbow
Inca symbol of the
Old nation – horizon
Stripes – red – orange – yellow –
Green – blue – ‘digo – violet.
Among all the Armas’
Unarranged people, dogs
Aimlessly wandering,
Seed picking pigeons,
Smoking patrons, baby
Llama with a six year
Old girl and Cusquena
Mother – both proudly dressed –
Traditional ‘ttire –
Sat a Peruvian
Lady on the center
Fountain’s edge. She wore her
Night black hair to her chin,
And had skin shades darker
Than most the tall tourists.
She looked about average
For a native’s – not high –
Height. I watched her take left
Hand and brush her direct
Straight hair behind her ear.
She hadn’t noticed me.
A young man approached her –
Kissed her right china cheek while
Momentarily yet
Emphatically in
‘Bracing her. The two strode
Across the cobble stone
Street up steep Cordova.

Mortality

Mortality
By Nabil Abou Baker
5/23/2010

I am reminded of you every time
I look – stare into the mighty mirror.
Life – odd when it reaches that point where you can
Notice the changes of every – damned – day
The stress, pain, hardship, losses, and – wrinkles.
Changes unwantedly manifested,
Ones that take shape on your cold countenance.

Life without Alliteration

Life without Alliteration
By Nabil Abou Baker
3/27/2010

Sober, somber lost in endless slumber.
Swineburnian thunder marks a solemn sylvan site,
Despite the meaningless snakes and stones!
Without her, is life without alliteration.