Umi never made me
lock myself away
stay in my room when
I disappointed her
When the world spins
I shut out the voices
All she would say is
the sun will still rise
no matter how dark it gets in here no matter how lonely I start to feel |
I can still be the light no matter how scared I get in here I start to remember |
my name is Amal
and Amal means
hope means there
is still a tomorrow
But there’s no future in these
four wallsfour walls
boxing me inboxing me in
so I punch the air
shadowbox with God
spar with all four of these
corners as if they are all
different versions of me
Ninety-degree angles
of Amal—sharp lines like
a barber fade, except
I will never fade
I’m still herestill breathing
heart still beating like drums
in some faraway place called
homehomehomehome