She senses their rapacious scrutiny,

Foul. Satiating. Lurking in shadows.

Shifting through windowless workspaces,

Treading softly behind the treadmills,

Tracking her through pet stores, the park,

The bars and boutiques, banks, and the beach.

No place is secure, nowhere is safe.

Not home in her garden, not even in her grave.

They’re persistent, you see.

These creatures. These monsters. These creeps.

These terrible, twisted, tyrannical things,

Captives of their paleolithic postures,

Seekers of forbidden treasures. Entitled.

Victims of their own inconsequential egos,

Searching for worship, searching for obeisance,

Seeking unearned and unwarranted validation.

She tries to escape.

She wraps herself in dull, gray fabrics.

She travels in packs.

She speaks softly, she shouts, she screams.

She drinks only water.

She makes herself ugly; she hides her face.

She tries to be invisible.

She clearly says, “No.”

But the monster still does what all monsters do.

It eats.

It is her fault.

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'Ana walidatuk (I am your mother)

I rocked you in the waters of my womb

'Ana waliduk (I am your father)

I gave of my flesh so your tree could bloom

'Ana 'akhuk al'akbar (I am your older brother)

I fought against those who would harm you

'Ana 'ukhtuk alsughraa (I am your younger sister)

I gave you comfort when you were subdued

Limadha la tatakalamu? (Why won’t you speak)

When they slander my name?

Limadha la tasrukhu? (Why won’t you shout)

When they drown my home in flames?

Limadha la tudafie eani? (Why won’t you defend me)

When they flood the streets with my blood?

Limadha la tabki? (Why won’t you cry)

When my children are left dead in the mud?

'Ant taqul 'ana hadha lays min shanina (You say, it’s not our business)

As another of our daughters is raped

'Ant taqul 'anaha laysat maerakatana (You say, it’s not our fight)

As another child’s body is draped,

'Ant taqul 'anaha laysat mushkilatana (You say, it’s not our problem)

As another of my people die,

'Ant taqul 'anaha laysat harbana (you say, it’s not our war)

As another of your missiles fly.