Beyond the Veil

Beyond The Veil

I cover me

My smile is the veil for my tears when pain chokes

up in my throat and I cannot speak my fears

You cover me

When your eyes move past my plight and choose not to see

me amongst the blurred pages of faces and the twittering traffic

I cover me

When I want to be that banquet set aside only for divinity,

my own best fruit sacrifice, not for your eyes to taste

You cover me

When you brand me your feast, your table set aside and booked for eight pm tonight,

an all you can eat buffet, a bovine beast

I cover me

On a whim, a summer’s day,

to keep the heat away

or to let my style bloom bright and gay

You cover me

With praise

I cover me

So that you / they / he / she / it cannot see

Cannot touch

That covered part of Me

And you who snatch my veil away, what do you hope to see?

Or claim?

My shame?

My name?

Pain? Bride? Blood? Pride?

Or something you thought was yours that I was trying to hide?

De-spite

you say it’s not my right

I cover me

With or without my veil,

my dikhlo, tichel, hijab, burqa, scarf or my band branded black hoodie

There is a Me

You cannot touch and will never see.