is mind the
freely thought every where ,sanctuary a
,take to meant were they form the into matures
– balladist good ,God of full previously – mine for except
myself find I .room for fights yet ,you harbors which
,edge its at napping you find I ,time of truth the in spent
perhaps .thrive to year this want I .obsession miserable a
up crept you when like .surprises two or one us give will it
,aftershave mint in yourself drowned having ,me behind
daffodils homegrown ,neck my on breath your
stop not did skin my & hands your in
easy wasn’t it .week a for swelling
me strangled have would face your ;headspace my reclaiming
try I .back it taking in delayed I if
name my with mouth your ,eagerness your hold to
word the of idea your ,it of inside expanding
types what me asking you ,together
times many how – want never I’ll kisses of
?have we thing this name to afraid you were
?vanquished the become I did when
path righteous their on ,hopes my – detailed , intentional
,you for devotion my .fruition seek ,universe the to
remnant the :become we’ve agree I what .sooner replace must I
aloud quiet the ,phone the over held conversation a of
hangs someone forgetting of pain the .ears our in
.own their carries everyone ,bag a like
Note: The Dore (which in Urdu, means line, cord, rope, or thread) is a poetic form created by Sanam Sheriff. Following its parameters, the first and last lines split a quote by someone the poet considers to be a part of their lineage.
Ernest Ohia is a Nigerian queer writer currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Alabama. A few publications where his works have appeared include Lolwe, Rigorous Magazine, The Muse, Arts Lounge, Agbowo, Nantygreens, etc.