My
sister / the older one / the one not estranged / the one who continues to /
is
the one to deliver the news – / “How is the weather in Toronto?” She begins /
“Are you inside? / Can you sit down?” /
I /
abandon
the phone / screen down /
on
the kitchen counter & /
prepare
to leave the house
The dog / uncharacteristically compliant / puts each paw forward for his tiny dog booties / Stands still and silent by the front door as I lace my winter boots /
We
step outside / & find /
everything
white
The
dog / still / uncharacteristically obedient /
still
/ does not pull at the leash / He
cocks his little head / at the
streetlight / the squirrel /the neighbour’s dog and / we walk and walk / until
/ our faces meet the edge of lake / The waves lash / at the air / choppy and
wild / Howling and cross
You were a child when / the air raids screamed / the walls shook / the bombs fell / You army crawled under your father’s charpoi / tears and snot smearing your face each time / You married to escape / The I.U.D. failed you twice / Every doctor spoke to you like you were a provincial sheltered cloistered / little / muslim woman / An angry white woman screamed at you / pointing her middle finger / Go back to / when you took too long parallel parking and I / slid down the passenger seat / embarrassed and mortified / of you / You wore the same purple winter coat from Goodwill / for a decade or so / until finally I / tore it from its hanger and ran into the inky night / “I bought you a new one!” / I ran giggling and disappearing into darkness / You loved white fish / Always welcomed me home with a plate of cod and sumac / lemon and olive oil /
On
the uphill climb back / the dog skids and slips / loses his footing then his
booties /
The
white glistens /
blankets
us into sameness /
We
squint /
our
eyes contracted / blinded / the entire long cold quiet walk home
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Salma Hussain is a poet, novelist and critic. She has a B.A. (Hon.) in English Literature, a law degree from the University of Calgary and a Master’s in Law from McGill University. Her writing has been widely published in various literary magazines. Her chapbook of poetry, WHAT IF MAYBE & OTHER POEMS was released by Baseline Press in the summer of 2025. Her latest novel for young adults, IT’S NOT OVER YET will be published next year by Penguin Random House Canada in the fall of 2026. She lives in Toronto.
