I searched her face for it
atonement
in her eyes that had seen
a spectrum of scenes over years
her brow which she could have bent
signaling absolution, but she couldn’t.
The last thing she did give was a reluctant smile
so I thought, maybe she’s coming round
but before I could sit
listen as she told me again
to always hold my head up high
in the world of vultures, redemption, sin
before I could talk to her of mistakes
and regret, her soul fled.
She laid cowering in the end,
a woman who commanded the attention of
rooms, died at night and took with her
any possibility of my absolution.
AYESHA F. HAMID 