Insect Proverbs by Melanie Browne

you see her in the street,

nadja with the chocolate eyes,

you have arabic  dreams where it rains sand 

and she feeds you red locusts 

you are too shy to speak to nadja with the 

fireflies in her hair,

you want to make love

under the jasmine trees,

but nadja refuses,

you follow her,

the vines clutched

tightly in your fists