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Poem: For Khurram, You Choose To Fight

Ather Zia writes a poem for Outlook.

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the river burns 

fish die, war is unending

home is a battle field

many walk past, but not you my friend,

not you; you choose to fight

each day, steady, singleminded

on one foot -

you speak fearlessly 

to power

you journey for justice

a peace that disallows forgetting

many walk past, but not you my friend,

not you; you choose to fight

each day, steady, singleminded

on one foot -

you pay dearly,

all costs, a limb, pieces of skull,

friends, blood 

your daughter’s laughter 

that you don’t get to hear

your son’s tears that you cannot dry

your beloved craving your hand

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your mother calling your name

we keep drawing

from the well of your strength 

behind the bars, still the freest-

many walk past, but not you my friend,

not you; you choose to fight

each day, single minded, 

steady, 

steadier than those 

digging the heels of their two feet

that are destined to falter

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