The Woman Bomber of Istanbul

In Taksim
Where the shoppers and tourists go
Where the chenars are half as old as Time
Where the Sultan bathed once in alabaster baths
Where women sell themselves nightly
            mimicking the throes of birth
At office-time in that same Taksim Square
An Eastern girl melting with pity
for her imprisoned brothers
Felt herself free to blow herself up
            (and other acquiescers with herself)
to free her imprisoned brethren

And I, separated from my beloved
                    by his mother
Imprisoned in my attic apartment
Felt myself to be that Taksim pavement
That chenar weeping with Time
That hamam of the unwashed
That human bomb

Which blew up the world
                to free herself

11.9.01


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