My Sultana, My Sister

My Sultana, My Sister

My sister is the Sultana
who rules the kingdom alongside her Sultan.
One day the Sultan’s concubine
praises my sister for the finery of her blouse.
My sister compliments the concubine’s earrings.
And a hug of admiration ensues
as strong and loving as any embrace on earth.
I wait in the antechamber for the coffee
my sister bears each day as a sign of filial piety.
But to my surprise the Sultan’s concubine
brings the brew with a smile and a hand squeeze.
She says, “Your sister tells me that you two
are very close like conjoined twins.
But since you two are siblings
marriage is out of the question.
Yet you keep yourself chaste out of adoration of her.
We agree that the time has come
for you to break free of this faithful respect
that has no future.”
“The bond you speak of is very sacred.
It will be hard to choose you
when my emotions are entangled with my Sis.
But you are comely and sweet
and I believe we could find marital bliss.
Please tell me the secret of love
so that we may bestow it  upon each other.”
“Love is the dance of butterflies
on a summer’s day by the water’s edge.  
Take heed to what you feel
because the choice you make today
will determine your happiness tomorrow.”
“I feel the slippage of time and the fall
that leads into your arms.
Take me into the alcove and let’s speak
our lover’s language that only we understand.”
“First I will break the news
of your liberation to your sister.
She will marry us before the harvest moon.
She worried that her grip on your soul
might keep you single for life.
Her heart will feel joy that your partner
is her favored in the Sultan’s court.”
“Make haste unto your Sultana’s side
and bestow the news of our impending rebirth.”