solitary in her room
solitary in her room
she dreams of forbidden books
other narratives of freedom
imprinted between the pages
she can now turn to
freely
inside the dark
solitary in her room
she contemplates the verses
ghazals in Urdu
cacophony of notes
from far away poets
who respect her presence
who reward her with their music
solitary in her room
she brushes her long hair
worrying whether someone will come
cut it off in the night-
someone who expects her
someone who fears her,
someone who once carried
then dropped the key
5/92
Tucson