why are you so

blue girl

did the boys

laugh

when you tried

to join their game

did they say

you don’t understand the rules

you get too emotional

you’re not strong enough

did you taste

resentment

like hot ashes

and swallow

or spit it at their feet

did you feel afraid

when they

promised

you’re gonna get it

and dragged you

under the bleachers

did they get too eager

with their matches

only to find

that you were already

burning blue

girl

-for Sahar Khodayari

-dawn