9
the walls were torn down long ago
homes demolished
rebuilding forbidden

but the stones remain

someone dug them from the soil
with bare hands
carried them across the fields

someone set the stones
in place on the terraced slope

someone planted trees,
dug wells

someone still waits in the fields all night
humming the old songs quietly

someone watches stars chip darkness
into dawn

someone remembers
how stone holds dew throught the summer night

how stone
waits for the thirsty birds

She didn't know her thirst for song would
lead her to water,
telling stories to all
who would gather to hear.

(Fateema)

Yet because legends
living in the heart will not die,
even in a land
vanished of water,
she would draw from her bleeding dreams
to drink all the things she needed to say.

(Fateema)