Do Not Touch My Clothes

by Geraldine Monk

materials and styles may differ.
vibrant yarns of cotton. silk. wool. spliced
metallic threads. spangles. woven love. sequins.
braids. dreams. beads. mirrors. sewn–in souls.
shimmers. floral sweeps. geometric laughter.
suns. stars. fruit. embedded hope. pimento.
blossom. remembrance. ram’s horns. tulips.
birds. singalongs. swinging lion tails.

we left you high and dry
your tiny taste to moisten
your sip of self snatched
from your lips blotted
views threw shrouds
black and blue around your
bruised minds. bodies. education.
health. sufficiency. singing. participation in life.

the bright materials of
Afghan women around the
world sway and rally with
passion to say:
‘Do Not Touch My Clothes’
as everyday grows more forlorn
across the country pomegranates
rot and drop from weeping hems
into gagging mouths of gutters.