Fragments

Grey chips of rough cement 
Rust rubble all around,
Diamond patterns on a carpet 
Edges frayed.
Half a tomato, wilted leafy greens on a 
Broken plate.
The smile of a mother, front teeth missing,
The stump of a father's arm
Raised in prayer,
Beckon the three-and-a-half children 
Playing in the dirt without a care.

Zertab Quaderi is living her dream life: reading books, dabbling in art, spending me-time, and guzzling coffee.