The Golem and The Djinni

This poem is based on the title of a book I bought today called "The Golem and the Djinnni", by Helene Wecker. I have written this based on the title and blurb alone, and cannot wait to read the book itself! I may post a second version of the poem, based on what I read in the story. Until then, enjoy.


The boy reached out,
His early morning ceramic cup of coffee
instantly crushed,
By his mindless, searching hand.
The droll of his daily routine was a blessing;
It kept him from sobbing.
Instead he reverted to a weary sigh-
As he placed, with surprising tenderness,
The shattered remains with the rest:
A clock, once hung above the open fireplace,
Four wine glasses- not from a party, but from a lack of washing up,
A heart.

*

The girl reached out,
The tap of the bath glowing with intense ferocity.
She plunged her feet with needy anticipation
of a quick,
Cold,
Refreshing burst of soothing liquid.
Instead the water parts as though anticipating her touch,
Like Ali and the cave entrance.
Steaming fissures appear in the disturbed water,
Evaporating,
Leaving the girl crying,
Her tears joining the clouds of bath above her.

*

The boy walks from his house in the Quarter,
Boots clomping and stomping like an angry cartoon villain,
To announce his arrival at his favourite cafe,
Where people part like Moses' sea,
Just to avoid his tread.

*

The girl glides from her house,
Silently,
Crossing the park of her youth,
The burn patches adding to the history of the already scorched earth;
Past ventures.
She slips into her favourite cafe,
Unnoticed.

*

The boy sees the girl,
Past failures clicking through his mind,
Like a mocking slideshow of embarrassment.

*

The girls sees the boy,
Sees him looking her way.
Anxiety fills her, fluidly,
Past rejections flowing through her mind.

*

But the boy smiles.

The girl smiles back.

He nods to her table, asking permission.

She nods back.

The talk for hours,
About their families,
Their hopes, dreams, aspirations.
They talk about their youth,
Their difficult and similar paths through school and college.
Long pauses, punctuating their talk, stretch,
Comfortably,
As they sit and gaze.
Time passes.
The sun falls down over the horizon with relief,
The moon rises, with giddy expectation.

And the golem is unburnt.

And the djinni is unbroken.