gabeeba baderoon

- one - The Opening Minutes of a Film


Published by Sentinel Poetry (Online)



I look at you

like the opening minutes of a film,

when you don’t yet know

what to focus on.



In the long corridor on the way to the station

you are walking away from me

against the adverts in the subway



I must be following you.

You are a long shot that never recedes.



I want you to look at me.

You look back, maybe to see

if we’re going in the same direction



You slow down so much

your hair seems liquid.



I don’t know where we’re going

I want to touch the side of your neck,

this slows you in the electric light



We both know something is about to happen.

I don’t want to talk.



Keep walking, but look back

So we know we are together.