Lying in the sun
Contently warming my soul
As I listen to brook and wind quietly flow
Life gently passing by,
Slowing down enough to catch my breath
Connecting with friends, family, and nature
As days turn into starry nights
In this moment, I know peace
I weep for thee,
Lady Liberty.
For your children,
Young and old.
For your soldiers,
Brave and bold.
I weep for the mothers
Fathers, sisters, brothers.
Torn apart from under your skirts.
I weep for the tired,
The hungry,
The desperate yearners,
No longer welcome
At these shores.
I weep for the numbered,
Their crimes those of existing.
Wanting better.
Working harder.
Dreamers all.
I weep for thee,
Lady Liberty.
Struggling day by day
Watching the news
Trying to decide if today is the day
To see a doctor, or buy food
Fill a prescription, or your tank
See a dentist, or pay rent
Day by day, it gets worse
You find a lump
You break a tooth
You reach for that empty inhaler
Your chest hurts
And you know
In this First World country
You have been found wanting
Your trial long over
Your sentence: Death
Execution: To Be Determined
Built on foundations – diversity, equality, freedom – once thought solid
Now crumbled beneath
Veneer used to hide, to shine where light was scarce or non-existent
Now is scratched, dull, and dented
Showing the ugly scars beneath
Additions made to show the wealth and momentum
Now mere skeletons of their intent
With winds of change – for worse, not better – blowing through
The flag, brand new and brightly colored
Waves and people cheer
Blinded by the stars displayed
They fail to see
Their home is collapsing
Crumbling into history
When I was little, I saw you from afar. You were so great, so full of hope, opportunity, prosperity, forward motion. Truly the land of milk and honey, or so I believed.
Where are you now?
When I was little, it seemed like you fought for those who couldn’t. You were willing to rise to the challenge when others wouldn’t.
Where are you now?
When I was little, you welcomed those in need. You said, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Where are you now?
When I was little, I watched as your women appeared to go where they hadn’t been able to before. Equality was gaining, and not just for them, if only by inches.
Where are you now?
When I was little, I trusted all the times you said, “Never again!” or “This can’t happen here,” in the face of atrocities toward others, be they Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or otherwise.
Where are you now?
First floating, then swimming, moving forward as I go.
Clearing hurdles as they come. Struggling to stay afloat.
Then a riptide pulls me under;
Deeper, deeper, down I go.
Stuck in this maelstrom of feeling too much and nothing at all
Not knowing which way to go in order to breathe again.
Love.
Love does not hurt.
Love does not cheat.
Love does not abuse.
Love does not threaten or fear or trick.
Love is caring.
Love is faithful.
Love is gentle and kind.
Love is truth. Loyalty. Faith. Hope.
Love is love.
Something I wrote after the attacks on Paris. What happened there (and not just there, but it was the catalyst) weighed heavily on me and this is what came out.
Yesterday,
Your worst fear was the boogeyman under your bed.
Your worst enemy was that boy down the street that kept pulling your pigtails.
The only reason you feared going to school was because you didn’t study for that test.
You could play outside unsupervised until curfew, which was when the street lights turned on, or you got called in to dinner.
You got grounded for sneaking out to meet your boyfriend.
Your only gun was the one you shaped with your hand and made ‘pew pew’ noises for.
Mommy or daddy being away for work meant staying up late so you could talk to them on the phone, and never fearing they wouldn’t make it home again.
Mommy and daddy taking you to school for your first day meant never having to worry about more than if you liked your teacher and if you made friends?
Seeing the police meant safety, and maybe a speeding ticket.
Telling people, “My daddy was a soldier,” was met with “That’s so cool,” and not “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Today.
Today, everything feels wrong.
Topsy-turvy.
Inside-out.
Surreal.
Today, a child brings guns to class because he can’t handle his life anymore and wants to take others with him. Teachers and children fall.
Today, mom and dad go out to dinner and never make it home because their restaurant got bombed.
Today, CPS gets called on a mother who allows her children to be outside on their own and learn independence.
Today, we’re on the precipice of war, with enemies a dime a dozen, each no less a threat than the other.
Today, police get gunned down for doing their job.
Today, seeing those flashing lights could mean you lose your life, and not just a few bucks.
Today. Today. Today.
Today feels heavy. Sad. Weighed down.
There is no safety, no innocence left. At least, that’s how it feels today.
But tomorrow. Tomorrow there is still hope.
Hope for peace.
For sanity.
For safety.
For innocence.
For love.
It’s just you
I am dismissed
It’s a bother
I am a bother
Ill chosen words
Cut down to my darkest self
I am a burden
Unworthy
Hurt.
Stop breaking me
Tearing me
Patching
Waiting
Hoping
Breaking again
Stop before the pieces of me
Are too small to put together again
Shattering
My sense of self
Fracturing
Splitting
Broken
© 2024 Nae's Writing Corner
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
