In Yemen
the blood kept pouring from all pores.
when the powerful harked back to
the ceremonial sword dance, the kingdom's allies
came out in force for the dance
What waltzing feet, what peace skitters to hide
In the lavish royal hall,
on the orb
their splayed fingers flicker through
the hundred thousand dead
The zealots applaud, another crackling war
They believe, it could be beautiful
It can take the shape of a handsome cheat and a chancer
or the shape of a pole dancer
whose endless pleasure is in warping-around
the burnt bones of the Yemenis
Khaloud Al-Muttalibi is a poet and translator. Her poetry has been published in a number of literary magazines and journals, including After the Pause, The Glasgow Review of Books,The Paragon,Ygdrasil and Ink Sweat & Tears.
