Nine Poems for Girls Who Won't Read Them

For Zara

You.  

The mother who should have loved you 

didn't

the father who should have raised you

couldn't

The boy who should have stood by you

wouldn't

And yet you carried on

you barely reached my shoulder, 

but when I faltered, 

you carried on

and when she raged, 

you carried on

And when it seemed all was lost,

you carried on

And when you might have run,

you didn't, couldn't, wouldn't.

Every day

I thank the God I don't believe in

for You