Her wings lay torn upon the ground Her screams muffled; cries scorching her throat As they tore at her skin Shattering the stars in her youthful eyes As she watched; dulled and empty
He knew
As her hand fell flat; uncurled Her mouth, a stretched echo of her suffering Marred colours of reds and blues charring her soul and body With a single tear leaping from her ghosting eyes
He rose
With the final gasp shifting dust above her cracked lips The thud of her limp body thrown against rotting carcases And the darkening sky shedding tears in anguish
He cradled her to his chest; numbing and warm A finger pulled down the lids of her unsee in eyes Whispering you're safe now Zainab I've come to take you home
In memory of Zainab and others who faced the same cruel fate as her