Maldives: Farah Didi

I WILL FORGIVE
by FARAH DIDI

for the third time
they cuffed me from behind,
the cold unforgiving metal
biting into the skin,
my shoulders drawn together
arching my back like a rainbow,

tear gassed,
my lungs bursting,
I gasped,

he grabbed my hair,
someone,
young enough to call me mum,

and they watched,
and waited,

and I too will wait my son,
but I will forgive,
when my turn comes.