We were side by side in chemistry.
Hands touched the same beaker, still,
no reaction. I remember your cheeks
were warm streaks. We learned
about the water cycle.
I knew all about it.
Rising heat and condensation
changed the course of thundering,
rainfall. But I didn’t brag much, when
we were side by side in chemistry.
Your shy eyes panicked when
your glass water bottle shattered,
spilled on me. I remember
your cheeks were scarlet streaks.
Dew and fog
covered your brows as you peeked at my quiz,
when we were side by side in chemistry.
I saw you once, looking at my sheet.
So I smiled, and covered my paper.
Your F matched your cheeks; red streaks.
I thought you were really clever;
did you know?
I remember our cheeks were rose streaks
when we sat side by side in perfect chemistry.
Manaal Azhar
Manaal Azhar has a BA in English with a minor in History and a concentration in Creative Writing from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has worked as a poetry reader for the Random Sample Review and has poems in Blueprint Magazine. Manaal is currently in grad school at Wilfrid Laurier, where she also works as a teaching assistant in the English and Film department.
