Listen to a reading by Tim Foley:

What strange groceries that man is carrying

Odd shapes in two plastic bags

Dripping blood

They look like they weigh more than the world

Head bowed

Eyes screwed shut

Step after step, feet like lead

Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah

What are those strange groceries you carry, sir?

These are my children, he says through a clenched jaw

They have had a long and weary day

And it is time to put them to bed

His face is wet with tears

And his arms are shaking

He walks on

Heavy feet with a heavy burden

Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah

Oh Allah

____________

____________

____________

My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece here are some options where you can toss some money into my tip jar if you want to. Go here to buy paperback editions of my writings from month to month. All my work is free to bootleg and use in any way, shape or form; republish it, translate it, use it on merchandise; whatever you want. The best way to make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. All works co-authored with my husband Tim Foley.

Bitcoin donations: 1Ac7PCQXoQoLA9Sh8fhAgiU3PHA2EX5Zm2

Trending