She cannot sleep
Fear like steel
Coiled tightly, crushing her chest
She checks
Again, and again, under her child’s nose
Is he breathing?
Sleeping?
Or has he succumbed to icy death?
She cannot sleep
The acid burns deep
In her empty stomach
Like it’s gnawing, searing
Her flesh and bones and self
She cannot sleep
Clutching her cold child close
Trying to keep his numb toes warm
The fire in her heart, chest, ribs
Unable to reach, heat, heal him
She cannot sleep
Beneath her lids, she sees
Her mother’s silent screams
Her daughter choking on blood,
Burnt homes, broken dreams
She cannot sleep,
But she will breathe
Her every ragged, selfless,
Resilient breath
Unyielding, inviolable,
Free
And if, in spite of our privilege, comfort
Her pain forces us awake,
Inspires us to protest
Injustice with every breath
Then she redeems us, our humanity,
We do not liberate those who are already
Free
Fatema Valji | @poetryfv
