Newlywed

There was the requisite
lacy white dress
and the tailored black suit
the mabrouk
Allah y’barak feek
mabrouk

paint and white powder
foundation
façade

she was the perfect
Sudanese
bride

strained smiles belying
the hope that was dying

but his eyes
they never lied

henna halfmoons
still darkened the tips
of his closely cropped nails

as he forced untruths
through clenched jaws and
tight lips

but the pretense had
failed

He couldn’t stop
remembering
and remembering
and remembering

the future they had planned
in whispers and sighs
the oceans love spanned
that secret sunrise
the caress of her hand
warm embrace of her thighs
the solace he found in her eyes.