The meaning of habibi

(To Hala and Ross from Houston, TX)

If it wasn’t for the chiming

of the phone

occasionally

in this cancer war zone

I would be wilted and gray

I would feel quite alone.

If it wasn’t for the rainbow dreams

in subconscious worlds

painted by you

through this decaying reality

I would be brittle and hard

I’d choose to be blind and not see.

You are the father of my tired eyes

the mother of my worn-out ears

fine tuning my heart

and coloring my dreams.