Inspired by the 9 Jan 22 cartoon by Mahnaz Yazdani

she sits in a cold cage
knees in arms cradled

roots extended
beyond the bars
into warm earth

branches erupt
from temples
into light

become home
to nesting doves

Daniel Cooper is a husband and father of three children. He lives in Houston, Texas where he teaches political science and Italian at a local community college. In his free time, he loves reading and writes the occasional short story or poem.