Remember

 

Women of Afghanistan,

I would write a poem

to you,

but I do not have

the words to speak

of your courage.

I do not have

the courage

to speak of your dreams.

What use is the pain

in my heart?

I breathe out your names.

Malala Maiwand,

Shahnaz, Mursal, Saadia,

Nazifa, 10, and Frozan Safi,

Fatima Ahmadi,

Negar Masumi,

Zahra Mirzaei and Zarmina,

Zainab Abdullahi,

Banu Negar,

Khadija Amin,

Qamar Gul

and Shabnam Dawran.

But what of all

the Nameless Ones?

I breathe them in.