malalai khan

i looked at myself in the mirror.

i did not see myself.
i saw a thief,

a mosaic
of everyone i have stolen.

bits of glass and stone
from here and there.

return them all,
and i am laid bare. 

i wanted to break the mirror.
i wanted to break the mosaic.

i am nothing
but a mosaic
of broken pieces,
held together
by threads
of gossamer.