“... where would you like for me to be?”
-- Sébakkha’s psalm

“... if I were anywhere,” Sébakkha said, “I’d be at sea, drifting lazily on the waves. I’d have to have you with me, so we could sail together anywhere...

He said, “I’d be in your heart, in your mind, gyrating inside your soul, making myself at home in your body’s living room... I’d be inside of you, and outside of you, and around you. I’d border your shadow. Inside you, I’d feel every thought you have; I’d make myself every thought you’d have...

“Anywhere?” he asked. “I’d be at the beginning and the ending of your day. I’d be in the middle of your day, at the heart of your hour, its minutes and seconds.

“I’d be in your dreams,” Sébakkha purred.

“I’d be anywhere, preparing a place for you, a place for us, where I’d wake up to you every morning, pray and plan over guava juice with you each morning, greet you lovingly when we’ve returned from our day’s work, share my evening with you every night, share my bed with you every night, sharing my self with your self as many nights as you could take me. And then, we’d begin all over again the next day, for the rest of our days.

He said, “Baby, I’d be wherever you needed me to be - at your feet when they’re sore, holding your hands when they’re cold, standing beside you, behind you, around you, for you.” That’s what Sébakkha said.

The Sébakkha said, “I’d be anywhere, posing as your shelter if your house blew away, standing as your family when death takes your folks away, looking like you if you lost your way...

“I’d be on your shelf, so I could watch you sleep. I’d be in your book so you could read me. I’d be in your favorite song so you could sing me. I’d be in the air so you could breathe me. I’d be in your perfume, and I’d stay on all day. I’d be on your person; you’d wear me so well.

“Where,” Sébakkha asked as he turned down the lights, “would you like for me to be?”

Sadiqqa © 2007