Song for a Small Guest

from LOVE by Nebal Maysaud

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about

Written for Art Song Lab 2016 as part of the Queer Arts Festival in Vancouver

Nolan Ramirez - Voice
Elijiah Kuhaupt - Piano

lyrics

Song for a Small Guest
Alan Kurdî (2013-2015)

Seaweed followed the law. It released you
to waves bussing your small body

down, down dark currents, silver
minnow tunnel. Your red shirt swallowed

the Aegean, billowed and swelled,
but your shoes stayed on. By them the sea

knew your refuge dream, restored you to shore
so your father Abdullah could find you,

a guest of the sea. Without guests
all houses would be a grave, the poet wrote

making a worm from mist, a bird from sand.
What prayer transforms this empty

castle guards watch, ignorant of the gift
to shelter each other? Who will help

close, open, close your velcro laces
for the journey your father dares

for your sake? You, a gift loved with milk
cake and honey. You, names altered

to keep you safe—not Mohammed, Jesus.
Not Muslim, Christian. Hush

don’t bother now as white tourists gather
multiplying your image on their little screens

to console each other. You are not their orphan
of beach foam, Alan flag bearer

watching from the lap of God.

-Jennifer Kwon Dobbs

credits

from LOVE, released August 4, 2017

license

about

Nebal Maysaud Washington, D.C.

Knave. Culture war grifter. they/them. Free Palestine

nebalmaysaud.com

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