Tarfia Faizullah

In west Texas, oil froths luxurious from hard ground while across Bangladesh, bayoneted women stain pond water blossom.

That evening, a blade sliced through string, through skin, red on red on red. Kutta, the man in khaki says. It is only later I realize it is me he is calling dog. Dog. Dog.

During the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, collaborators led the Pakistani army to Sohagpur village. In one day, they killed 164 men. Fifty-seven

I know you know

I've never told the truth

You are the night

It doesn't want a handful of puffed rice