I grew with roots
planted firmly
inside my mother
and when those roots were ripped,
and I was pushed into this world
(unwillingly)

I screamed and cried

And every move since then,
every change,
every uprooting,
I've behaved the same.

"You won" he said.
as he slapped a label on my back
Your story's been read
then he left me with the pack

I guess I won
the prize is shame;
a forgotten name,
a lifetime of pain.

At least something's been gained
another award put in the stash
My medallion of empty gold
to help soften my headfirst crash

Birches' vertical
         parallels cross
                  diagonal light

At their center stands
          oak's rounder shape

a single star
          strong branches
                  radiate
                            
bending and
          bearing
                  bottles of red
  
                 and purple magic

giddy hikers'
           contributions
                  blur of white
                  
                  gold
            
uniform
           green
                  enchanting

Ashes
love's sacrifice
remnants of a message
fertility

Air's gift to Earth



Alexandra Coates
13 May 2019

The sun is going down
I'm just lying here
Letting it