Women Undefiled

--published by Exercise Bowler

Daughters of Tahirih, 

your sisters from across the Earth
call to you.
Stitch your hope to your heart.
You are not that name 
such as your lord did say you were.
Cast off your mantle of servitude,
and shout to the sky.
The man with the knife who comes in the night
cannot mangle your dreams.
The rituals of power
cannot excise your soul.