Aafia Siddiqui Poem by Ibn Ali

Aafia,
How is it men walk the earth and you're still bound,
How is it I smile and joke,
Sleep and wake up happy,
Why does sugar not taste bitter,
Tears should saturate my beard,
Why the dry precipitation,
Aafia I know my words may seem hollow,
Echoes resounding from the vast emptiness my courage vacated,
I wish I could claw the walls that hold you,
Till my bones erode and red stains burgundy paint,
And my soul is torn, just to make the smallest breach,
Just so you know:
You're not forgotten
And you'll see although we're weak,
We still love you,
You're my mother's age,
My sense of shame condemns my condescension,
I want to say be brave,
But I'm telling you, keep faith,
Not much time remains, and I swear by Allah
You'll be doled out your full due of justice,
Aafia I've let you down, please forgive me,
I've allowed myself some apathy,
It tasted so appealing,
But despite that I prayed for you,
I pray for you;
That the Angels that await for you are taking you
To Jannah, Firdaus, as they're raising you
They're greeting you, giving you,
Tidings of that pain's demise,
How could I let you be defiled,
How could I blame another man
When I have strength
And strength I have to use
And used for less than that,
The guilt a cloak I wear for you,
An albatross cascades aback,
Aafia, until you laugh, our laugher's something foolish,
Until you smile, the smiles we wear are masked and inconducive,
You've shown me strength I've yet to see and didn't think existed,
If I have a daughter,
She'll share your name in hopes she bears description.