Denied an Education

by Mohammad Zaki Zaki

When the young women were told
Of the Taliban’s new rule
Some started crying
Some shouted in anger
Cursed the Taliban
Some just said their last goodbyes
To their friends
Before walking away

They message me every day
Ask again and again to open the doors
But I can’t help them
I can’t even offer hope
I pray to God to help them be
Released from this prison

We are all in a cage that is
Afghanistan
I hope one day our dreams come true
To have mixed classes
To have liberty
To speak independently
To have freedom of speech
To see smiles on everyone’s faces
To see happy parents again
To be rescued from this jail