Written during my time in Afghanistan, this poem emerges from the inner darkness of war, where grief, survival, and silence often speak louder than words.

What began as a frustrating moment of unequal treatment during Ramadan in Afghanistan turned into one of the most absurdly funny and unexpectedly meaningful stories of my deployment. Beneath the humor was something deeper: a fight for dignity, fairness, and the right to be seen as a soldier first, female second.

A dark, poetic reflection on how something once sacred can be manipulated, overfed, and corrupted until its original beauty is lost.

A lyrical reflection on eyes that seem to hold battle, mystery, death, and divinity all at once, drawing us inward toward the parts of ourselves we fear most.

A raw and introspective poem about fragmentation, isolation, and the soul’s longing to break free from the cycles that keep it divided.

A stirring poetic call to awaken, clear one’s vision, and choose transformation over stagnation in a world already shifting.

A deeply personal reflection on trauma, avoidance, and the long road back to self, this piece explores what it means to stop running from pain and begin the work of true healing.