Last Christmas I gave you my Heart

For George Michael RIP I wipe the hot curry from my lipsas I think about my American comradeswith their ham and potatoes. Merry Desi Christmas…there will be puree aloofor lunch, along with a special kheer. No tree, just us sittingwith our uncles who wear turbansand kids who play with their white Barbie dolls. We don’t sing Christmas Carolswe watch old Hindi films,black and white movies with brown people Then for a moment between laughsand chai and some biscuits,I forget it is Christmas. Then I look at the newspaperand there it is: he is dead.My favorite singer from the eighties. Who will die next, god?I want to lie in a black dressas I cry, but I have nowhere to go. I think today, today I think this:He would sing me to sleep if he could.Lullabies about fame and death… He had faith, in you, Faith, Faithand he will always be your Father Figure.He woke us up before he had to go, go. I will sing for you because he cannot sing anymore.These are the small words I know.This is my song: If I knew youI would tell you thismany times over and over again. This Christmas I hope you get the girlor the guyI hope you dance, with the guy. I hope you live, really breathein and look at the colorsI hope you see every color but your own. I wish you kissesAnd water every time you are thirstyI wish you music. I hope you singWhen it rains I hope you get wet.I hope you cry. I wish you tearsof love and I wish youwould cry when you laugh. I hope you laughand notice the sweetnessin your own voice. I wish you friendshipand I wish you would reveal yourselfevery time you are betrayed… I hope you know you are allowed to be afraidallowed to prayeven if god is ugly. I wish you would rememberthis winter is for youand summer is inside you. I wish you the courage to saywhat you need to sayand say it with all you have. I hope your worriesbecome miniature jewelsthat you wear like medals. You’ve won this oneI hope you know you won this ChristmasI wish you all this again and again… I hope you have timeto wish to be, and to be freeI hope this is your day. 

Praying for Time

by George Michael

Do you think we have time?Do you think we have time?

These are the days of the open handThey will not be the lastLook around nowThese are the days of the beggars and the choosers

This is the year of the hungry manWhose place is in the pastHand in hand with ignoranceAnd legitimate excuses

The rich declare themselves poorAnd most of us are not sureIf we have too muchBut we'll taking our chance to sayI sang twenty years and a dayBut nothing changedThe human race found some other guyAnd walked into the flame

And it's hard to love, there's so much to hateHanging on to hopeWhen there is no hope to speak ofAnd the wounded skies above say it's much too lateWell maybe we should all be praying for time

Doo oh ohDo you think we have time?Do youDo you…

nina