Tip-of-the-tongue Phenomenon by Ali Znaidi

Tip-of-the-tongue Phenomenon

You think it’s sugar at the tip

of the tongue. I agree.

Sugar sketching cupcakes on the

skyscape.

A mirage yielding real water.

Asphyxiated aspirations

re-animated.

Inside my brain, broken images

spackled.

& dream tastes sweet,

though I’m still under the tip-of-the-tongue

phenomenon.

Written on 28 02 2013

Originally published in The Siren on 05 02 2014

Mother Nature by Ali Znaidi

Mother Nature

From time to time,

try to take off your shoes,

& let the hot sand

caress your bare feet.

Let them feel the touches

of the scorching grains.

Let the grains infiltrate

your veins, while you ponder.

Heal your weary psyche

w/ the sand’s aroma.

&, always remember that

Earth is too great to

let two little feet

tread on its GRANDEUR.

16 10 2013

Untitled: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

Untitled: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

They celebrated their first date in a love motel. But they didn’t know their sweat would ooze through the tabloids’ sheets by the sunrise.

26 02 2014

Untitled: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

Untitled: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

She fixed her glossy lipstick and aimed the beam at him. “He is not an easy prey. I had to try something else,” she said as he didn’t react.

26 02 2014

Paranoia: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

Paranoia: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

Paranoid about getting older, he grows a new mint plant every morning in the garden of his decayed house.

10 02 2014

A Short Failed Marriage: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

A Short Failed Marriage: A Nano Story by Ali Znaidi

She concealed her grief under a party hat & a glittering smile in the dance floor of a nightclub.

10 02 2014

Steelwork by Ali Znaidi

Steelwork

Before landing on earth

             Adam did not forget to steal steel from hell.

He stole steel to forge bars and fabricate fortified prisons’ doors.

He stole steel to make sharp stainless swords.

He stole steel to create all kinds of manacles.

Without stealing steel Cain couldn’t kill Abel.

Without stealing steal

             tales of tortures and stories of slaughters couldn’t be written.

Without stealing steal

             anthracite wouldn’t be extracted from the underground

             & skins couldn’t be grilled.

 Without stealing steel                                         

             barbeques of grilled skins couldn’t be prepared

             to the delight of hungry cannibals.

Without stealing steal

             weapons of mass destruction

             couldn’t see the light.

But the light in Adam’s heart made him bring steel from heaven

             to till soils,

             plough fields,

             & make swords to break all kinds of manacles.

06 03 2012