Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire
On the night of our secret wedding
when he held me in his mouth like a promise
until his tongue grew tired and fell asleep,
I lay awake to keep the memory alive.
In the morning I begged him back to bed.
Running late, he kissed my ankles and left.
I stayed like a secret in his bed for days
until his mother found me.
I showed her my gold ring,
I stood in front of her naked,
waved my hands in her face.
She sank to the floor and cried.
At his funeral, no one knew my name.
I sat behind his aunts,
they sucked on dates soaked in oil.
The last thing he tasted was me.
You Were Conceived was written by Warsan Shire.