Written by Stuti Desai
Art by rottonara
& her first words / are the same as / ours: אִמָא /
call out, name / sake, for / feit. / What is a woman if /
not her name? / Mary knows so / she
irons it into her neck / for safekeeping. / Common
historical knowledge that men like / when
you touch your hair, so she / runs fingers through,
watches it come out / in tufts brown / watches her name /
exposed, / theft in broad daylight.
/ Someone grabs her / arm, rough,
rope-flesh. / Men need women who / need men to need /
women, so do not fault woman / greying, iron
grip, do not fault woman / doe eyed, reprimanded for
serving another too much / do not fault woman
cutting her name, / sewing it together. / her first words / Magdalene
אִמָא / ímma / mother / come back Mother Mary.
outlander zine 