A poem from L'aura Fusco

We are deeply honored that the gifted and celebrated poet L'aura Fusco has penned this evocative poem as a tribute to the women of Afghanistan and in heartfelt solidarity with Afghan artists. Her words, a graceful echo of resistance and hope. We cherish this powerful offering a poem woven with empathy, strength, and the timeless bond of shared humanity.

Dawn by L’aura (Laura Fusco)

Give it back to me.

Give me back the dawn on my face,

to get out of this night sea barefoot

Give me back the wind,

all the wind,

so that not even a breath will remain

to ruffle my hair.

Give me back desire,

make it a song,

make its spring explode,

which now can’t flourish but in secret,

inside courtyards,

under veils and rules that oppress.

And kill.

Give me back my ankles,

my hips,

my legs.

And give me back my body,

all my body.

And my name, to rewrite the sky :

let it be my flag, my home,

my future to be carried as a jewel and as a destiny.

Give us back pride

And the madness of joy.

Let they be insolent and free like a storm, a lightning, a kiss.

Give it all back,

our freedom,

all our freedom,

make it so big that it can knock down the walls,

even those raised in our flesh,

and that it can force the locks 

which have sealed

every heartbeat, every thrill, every flight.

Give us back History,

let it come out of our rooms and lips,

let it open roads for us,

let  it open them to music,

and open them to poetry.

Give us back our words.

They which are our stones and our arrows.

Let them fly to the target,

even as we are persecuted,

and a birth, a love, life die inside.

Make us strong with them,

they who make the impossibile possible.