Aaliya's Haldi & Mehendi

 This Time by Cathryn Cofell (excerpt)


This is the forever family,

the one you lit on flickering faith

like a charm of candles,

when you unfold three sets of hands

and they slide together and hold

and even if a storm breaks they hold,

because life is stormy, because

even in the worst of downpours

this certain love will comfort you.