Beauty and the Beast

Nahida the exiled Palestinian

Subdued

She was lying on the floor 

Injured and hurting

I saw her crying 

 I saw her eyes

I felt her pain 

Her hands tied behind her back

Her feet shackled to the ground

Her hair shaved 

Her face blistered
Her body bruised 

Her nails pulled out 

Battered 

She pleaded for a break

A moment of stillness 

A moment of silence
A moment of nothingness

A moment of death even 

Or just a wheelchair 

Warlocks in black encircled her

Intoxicated with their "chosen-ness"

They danced and twirled around her shadow 

Revamped, manicured, suit-wearing cannibals 

Drooled over her heart

Eyes rolling 

Salivating over their supper-to-be 

A stone-soldier stood by 
No tongue, no heart, no eyes 

In his hand I saw the knife that carved out her heart

 Trembling, I came closer 

She was still breathing

Her frayed heart still throbbing 

She is ALIVE

I wept of pain

I wept of joy

My salty tears rubbed deep into her wounds

She jumped 

Kneeling down, I whispered something in her ear

She gasped for life 

Looked at me 

Eyes sparkled with a grin 

She knew

The birth of her baby is near

 Her soul bounced back 

Vigorous, buoyant, whole again

and Stunningly Beautiful