“This is the cover for If They Come for Us, a book of poetry by Fatimah Asghar. When I read the manuscript, I fell in love with Fati’s poetry. The tone of the book is of defiant celebration, and I wanted to reflect that in the cover. The various elements have symbolic meanings attached to the author’s life and metaphors referenced in her poetry. The lotus and jasmine represent Kashmir and Pakistan. both are cut and dissected, showing male and female parts in reference to her feeling like a boy-girl. The rose represents the United States; and a stone and a saffron flower, her late parents. Roots turn to veins and form a connection at the bottom, which are visuals she uses a lot—both blood and veins. They reference India’s dark past during the partition era, but also the connection she feels to her people. The faint rainbow pattern in the background celebrates Fatimah’s queer identity.”