“Lessons”

by Maria Tariq

I am here

to listen.

Nourish me.

How can I record

the soft edges

of your nouns,

the lilt of your

vowels?

Your footfalls, never

heavy, stirred the air

to hold our words,

kept the language 

of others safe

at the same time.

Am I wrong when I

let our thoughts slide

crash? Let me rise

knowing you’ll hear

my fixed up

say-so, let us go

make sure the trees

are breathing

let me

walk with you

again.

Maria Tariq is a freelance writer from Houston, Texas. Her experiences as a first-generation immigrant and passion for international human rights inform and inspire her work.