Fatima

Monday morning,

ordinary and peaceful.

She hears the birds humming in the sky,

and her mother yelling inside of the kitchen.

“Fatima! Come and send your brothers to school and fetch some water home!”

Heat traps inside of the rammed earth built house.

Sunlight shines through the mud cracks on the wall

into her bedroom.

Lands on her old, frayed school uniform.

She closes her eyes.

Walks out of her room with a giant bucket on her head,

leaving the books, pens, pencils

and school uniform behind.

Leaving her dream of being a teacher behind.

Fragile fingers holding muddy cooking firewoods in hand,

still beautiful.

But she wants something more.

In the most beautiful years of her life, 

she longs for the power of beauty from education.