“Notes for a Combing Song,” by Shadab Hashmi (Poetry ’09)

“Notes for a Combing Song,” by Shadab Hashmi (Poetry ’09) , published by Life and Legends.

Notes for a Combing Song

Shall we begin with a comb and an empty field
(jeweled grass, November sun, long-necked
bottle of mustard oil)?

I’ll never believe there is time enough
to untangle from (-tango with) our shadow selves

but let’s try all the same. Bring a radio,
a week’s worth of The Frontier Post

for drips, bring a thermos of chai, a clear
mind, some kind of winter halva with blanched almonds,

a Namda rug— itchy, but as you know, its gigantic
tawny-maroon daisies and juicy green ferns

are reminders that the universe
has a big heart. It is tightlipped but true.

Maybe you’ll align shadow
with shadow, cover my new periwinkle

sweater with a towel before oiling
and braiding my hair.

Maybe you’ll let the cats yowl in the distance, the cauliflower
overcook, fill the dialer with marbles, let the phone ring.

Find this poem, and Hashmi’s “Comb Maker,” here: http://lifeandlegends.com/shadab-hashmi/