they have killed the jalghoza
a local afghan woman wails in the market while beating her chest
no one understands why a woman would waste her tears on pine nuts
when there are crown walnuts and prized cashews overflowing from the stands
the cashier pays her no mind, fidgeting with his tasbeh as he counts an elderly man’s change
ahmad zahir’s voice croons through the store, but somehow this khala jaan’s grief
is the only soundtrack customers are willing to listen to
you do not understand, she beseeches
jalghoza requires patience
it is the most naazdana nut to grow
the only nut that is born with funeral attire already on its skin
you have to literally peel the life out
they have killed the men who harvest patience without ever laying hands on them
an act reserved for god has been achieved by men
her scarf soaked, the khala grabs me and shrieks,
jaanem, how will our children learn how to give pine nuts life
if they keep watching the sky to avoid death?
Liala Zaray is an Afghan poet from the Bay Area. Her work focuses on the Afghan diaspora and the Afghan community as a whole. Liala is a recent graduate from UC Davis and will be an MFA candidate at St. Mary’s. She loves pomegranates, alpacas, and is a professional napper.