Mardini

Marred at seventeen, 
she became the daughter of the waves
the shore breathing in and out 
a devotion to water 

those who reap land, give other things
a fire in the belly, a sandbag 
at the feet
a whiff of smoke everywhere 

her house was razed but others were kind

gave her two goggles and a wave

said on your march, ready

     Go

Go and do not look back, 
or turn your head for fear you might become 
a pillar of salt for disbelieving 
the ills that fall over Sodom 

but sometimes you learn to do things

to save your life, like  facing a wave

facing water to save the land
like catching a breath without looking back

she took her land in her heart

put on the goggles

then raced

like the roof would tumble on her head
like her feet where turning into pillars of salt 
for not believing.