By Written by Nadia Abbas.
—
My nephew’s name is embedded to his skin
In silk threading
White, holy, pure
My nephew’s name is sung with awe
In parts of the world
That glimmer with faith
Received with tears of joy,
Reverence,
Blushing hearts
My nephew’s name immigrated across a bitter ocean
Dragged through a wrestling sea
Taking root in the cold body of the land of the free
My nephew’s name has grown older, tired
Thrown around like a dagger
Hissed,
Abused,
Hijacked,
My nephew’s name is written in fire
Across the TV
My nephew’s name longs to take a breath,
Longs for its youth,
Longs for its innocence,
Longs for a hearty laugh
My nephew’s name faces a frozen Atlantic to its right,
And barbed wire to its left.