solitary in her room
dreaming of forbidden books
other narratives of freedom
inscribed between pages
she may unlock
freely
in the dark
solitary in her room
she contemplates splendid verse
ghazals in Urdu
cacophony of swaras
from far away poets
who honor her presence
who reward her with devout music
solitary in her room
she brushes her long hair
concerned someone
will cut it off at night
a father who starved her spirit
a brother who feared her freedom to choose
a family who once protected her
then locked away the key
5/92
Tucson