reading: brick lane by monica ali

Bursting with Life

Storm

Too many gloomy days
hover over endless thoughts
of how much longer
we can tread in this thirsty ocean.
Tiny bouyant bubbles of hope
glisten as we fill our lungs
only to burst mid-breath.
We are determined
to ride this storm.
Frozen pioneers walk beside us-
somewhere in our ancestral blood
sacrifice-strangled gasping souls
anchor us to eternity,
wrest free and tremble
valiantly bearing victory
as a curse, devouring death.
Perhaps the storm will pass
and allow us to curl up on the
sundrenched porch
healing
breathing deeply
absorbing
waiting
for the quiet rain
to begin
again.

Prairie

barefoot
I stand in the sodden prairie
frozen mud enveloping
my numb feet.
tear stained
I announce to heaven
I can no longer stand erect nor
trudge through this weary life
for I am bent
and broken
I am empty.
I shiver in the silence,
wait,
then gather the pieces of my self
Like shattered glass
and press them
to my suffering breast
gasping,
then sighing,
resigned.