Desire's Dance

when desires arose
despite loss of hope
i crash them
pushing them in the depths
of my being.
where they sink for a moment
but arise like a fire
inside the waters
of my being.
in crackling flames
where sea water babbles
smoke goes to my mind
& i run up
forgetting my self forgetting all that
the world has to offer
when these dance nakedly in the fire
i want to put off them
but my hopes
hidden in my breast
turn into ashes
i want to finish this immodest dance
but nothing to cover
the bodies of these bare wishes
which sometimes compel me
to dance nakedly.

Hamza Hassan Sheikh,
Pakistan

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"If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive."
- Audre Lorde