Veil

It’s a shy moon tonight
Peeping ‘neath frills of gray clouds
Now you see it ,now you don’t.

The sky tonight is a mystery
Divided for its own
On one side the stars spread in blue
On the other thick black and gray loom.

The moon’s poked out its head
Half like a setting sun
Sinking into the mulch of white.

It reminds me of an Arab binti
In fold and layers of black
With golden sandals for the feet
And tiny silver balls at the hem.

The moon has sank
But it has left a slight slit of light
To say -I’m still here.

Like the binti in the Niqab,
Brightly clashing with the dull coverlet
You don’t have to see her face
She’s there and she’s lovely.