How Dear You Are To His Beloved

On the streets of Chennai, half covered by a discarded shawl

Trying hard to sleep on the cold pavement,

Trying hard to forget it all,

Dear child: how magnified you are in the sight of Allah,

And how dear you are to His beloved.

In the camps of Kigali, staring blankly into the sand,

Trying hard to stay awake

As you hold your sister’s cold hand,

In your cozy Chicago home, surrounded by stuffed toys,

Feeling your heart rise up in your throat,

Feigning sleep to tune out the noise,