Truth

I.      Identity – Age 3, Jordan

In a booster seat in the back of the car,
I pondered, overwhelmed by the idea

That people were from places
And that I never knew of such a thing

‘Where am I from?’ I asked
‘You’re Palestinian,’ she said

‘Just Palestinian?’
‘Just Palestinian.’

And that was that.

II.      Life – Age 11, Egypt

She sat there kneading and rolling dough,
With a cup, cutting out pieces speckled with flour.

I watched how she made creases here and there.
I read the patterns and mirrored her.

All while, she said, ‘Do you know,’ and then
Whispered secrets the world had kept from me.

All while, I listened,
Watched our hands as they formed

My favorite spinach pastries.

III. Pride – Age 17, USA

Words came in hiccups
As I let go of my frustrations

To a comforting voice a continent away.
The tears dried and the heaving stopped.

And then I saw it, sitting in my inbox.
And I dialed her number once more.

And I laughed and sobbed, ‘I GOT IN’
And amid the excitement of it all

she said, ‘You deserve it.’