I did not realize that it was a gene
Passed down from your mother to you, then to me.
Isolation in the form of small fingers wrapped
Around my own,
Stuck inside these four walls
Tiny shrill screams inside a tiny home.
A piece of advice,
Passed down from your mother to you, then to me,
'You should get a TV, it can be good company’
Apr 8, 2024
Apr 8, 2024 at 4:35 PM UTC
I get my daughter ready for bed.
I change her diaper,
Put her in a fuzzy and warm sleeper,
Brush her teeth while singing her the ABC’s.
I let her pick out her bedtime story,
Her favorite?
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
She excitedly points out the animals’
Eyes, tail, fur, or wings.
I kiss her goodnight.
I tuck her in tight.
I try to imagine being you,
But I cannot for too long.
A mother just like me,
Living in Palestine.
Your own mother long gone,
Wearing her old house-key around your neck.
Your own child in your arms,
As you rock and rock
Such a small body that doesn’t breathe.
I try to imagine saying goodnight
For the last time.
I do not know your name,
But I do know you.
I can feel you.
Your pain. Your anguish. Your rage.
Your want to ruin the world
For letting this happen.
I too wish I could ruin the world for you.
Jan 8, 2024
Jan 8, 2024 at 2:55 AM UTC
When you speak to me my teeth ache
Our sweet fantasy has begun to decay
Jun 17, 2023
Jun 17, 2023 at 4:16 PM UTC
I took his hand
He led me into the water
Wrapped his fingers around my throat
“I love it when you choke”
May 20, 2023
May 20, 2023 at 2:26 AM UTC
I want the apple,
I want the snake.
I want my fruitful bite to take.
I want to swallow,
Naked and unashamed.
The juice dribbling down my chin,
Defiance has always been my biggest sin.
Apr 15, 2023
Apr 15, 2023 at 8:05 PM UTC
There.
Right below my sternum,
That’s where you want to make the incision.
Cut it out of me, please.
I want to see if this dark thing inside of me
Is as ugly as it feels.
Feb 10, 2023
Feb 10, 2023 at 4:43 AM UTC
I am hurting inside.
I want to let it out.
But it has nowhere to go.
Jan 14, 2023
Jan 14, 2023 at 2:49 PM UTC
How do I protect you from all the men?
The men that will stare at you until your skin itches,
The ones I will unknowingly introduce you to,
The ones that take advantage of your innocence
Until you are stripped of it.
My beautiful baby daughter,
I want you to stay this small
Where you don’t know you are a woman at all.
Dec 27, 2022
Dec 27, 2022 at 3:57 AM UTC
Can’t you feel it?
The slow yawn of time
Snapping it’s mouth shut.
Time
Chewed me up.
Spit me out.
Flesh, sinew, bones and hair.
Please, take me away from here.
I just need to get through this day,
This week,
This month,
This year.
I don’t know what I’m getting through.
What I’m going towards.
My heart beats a death march drum,
My fingers scrolling through a death feed.
Distract me.
I want to close my eyes and rest.
I never seem to wake up refreshed.
Aug 30, 2022
Aug 30, 2022 at 1:02 AM UTC
What do you want to do to me?
Grab my arm
Watch the skin turn red under your white fingertips
Kiss me, mark me, hate me, love me.
Every word you won’t say is written on my face.
I am your mirror.
Don’t look away.
Aug 25, 2022
Aug 25, 2022 at 8:27 PM UTC