I gave birth to grief last night

Image Description: Abu (Father) sits on a bench with his daughters, Sara and Uzma. All are smiling. 1996.

I gave birth to grief last night

A raw and leathery thing

Scaly claws emerging

from a womb

that has never held life

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Where does all this grief go?

How much more

Will continue sliding out of me?

I must count out enough rags

To wipe up all this mess

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The grief undulates

a moving living creature

it is monstrous

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My throat makes

A keening choking noise

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beti

are you lost?

Abu

where did you go?