REFUGEE SEWING CIRCLE                                   

in the company of isolation

we gather            consider

          themes you suggest

          symbols

the forged passports

hidden bank accounts

          pretended persecution

          imagined retribution

daughters never raped

sons undead

we take up our sharpest needle

thread it             consider

          the stitch’s suitability

          embroidery

is not the intent

beauty is superfluous

          you refuse to listen

          deny the truths

there are hells less visible

than slowly dying

grasp the creature cloth between

two fingers            consider

          its fleshy fabric

          plunge the needle through

pull down the upper lip

join the seam fast

          denial needs no nourishment

          limbo is no loss        

we stitch tight our stories

sew ourselves silent

© Dael Allison

 Published; Blue Dog Vol 4 No 7, 2005;

 Mind Moon Circle, March 2006