Harem
Harem
They find her in a street
That stays in shadow
Even in midday
Walking listlessly along
The market stalls
With her mother
Trying fruits
For ripeness
Always agreeing
Not trusting that
They will find her again
They decide to take her
There and then
She is going to live
In the palace
They tell her
Mother who is crying
She is going to live
With other beauties
In service of the King
She should be honored
To give her daughter
For the good of the kingdom
The girl is calm
She kisses her mother
Goodbye
And goes with the men
Without glancing back
Years later
Kicked out of the harem
The girl
No longer a girl
Appears at the door
In her hands
Two blue-black plums
The same ones
They felt years ago
Ripe now
They eat them
Right there
At the threshold
Juice running
Down their chins
And laughing