She knew magic
as magicians knew the burning fire
the unarmed soldiersings the words of freedom
ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُلُودِ ﴿٣٤﴾ لَهُم مَّا يَشَاءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ ﴿٣٥﴾
sometimes she had to choose between
which child she had to feed
which child she had to clothe
and which one she had to let go
they say poor people
have poor dreams
unknowingly she was collecting gold
while her right hand was the only
one for her child to hold
she dreamed under the heat of the sun
and fought under the moon
which reminded her of beauty
she had— family members dying besides her
she had— loud screams at earembracing the welcoming of the angel of death
she said the screams
was a sign of life
it was the sight of dead bodies
which made her heart scatter into pieces
she wonders if her husband is still alive
while feeling pity for the woman
who reads the stars
claiming her life is at stake
she wonders if her children
could ever experience a day
of comfortwhile feeling pity for the man
who bows down to the fallen angel
when the moon covers up
the sunshe falls into prostration--feeling peace.
Amina Cilmi Shabeel
Copyright © 2013
