for those who

for those who

for those who (wear mud

&memory like skin

&sleep with one

eye on the blast)

who eat silence

for breakfast &

carry children

like broken clocks—

for those who write

hope in the margins

of ration cards,

who cry in latrines

& kiss only

between flights

(for those who’ve

learned

the shape of

goodbye)

who run into

what the world runs

from, holding

nothing

but hands—

for those who

are never home

(but make

shelters

of themselves)

—who bend like

bamboo

in wind &

still

stand

for those who

burn slowly—

unspectacular stars

in forgotten

skies—

i say:

your name is not

forgotten by

the earth.

i say:

you are the prayer

no god dares

ignore.