#crossing
within the storm a heart of purpose beats
as surely as it beats in the calm of a clear blue sea.
Apr 10
Apr 10, 2026 at 9:29 AM UTC
They walked us down through cottonwoods
the leaves rattled like small bones.
Mud ****** at our boots.
The river smelled of salmon blood and wet iron.
“This is your turn,” they said.
“Your turn to weave.”
They sat us along the bank
knees in the cold silt
while the elders pulled story from their mouths
hand over hand
silver filament
bright as fish scales in lantern light.
I understood.
Grandmother lived in those branches.
You could feel her listening.
The threads changed color as they spoke.
Storm-dark pewter
like the river before rain.
Then thin as spider silk
when someone whispered a name
too sacred to hold long in daylight.
“Now you.”
I shut my eyes hard
mosquitoes whining near my ears
and prayed to whatever lived in water
the quiet old saints who ride the backs of salmon.
Then suddenly
a net of words
shivered into my hands.
Wet rope smell.
Knots tight as knuckles.
Moonlight caught in every strand.
“This one is yours,” they told me.
“Now cast it.”
So I stood there
a skinny girl in borrowed boots
and threw that net
into the black breathing river.
Again.
Again.
Months went by like that.
Fingers raw from knotting stories.
Rope burns in my palms.
The net coming back empty
silver dulling toward gray
like old jewelry buried in river sand.
Years passed.
The river widened.
I forgot the girl on the bank.
Then one night
my line ****** hard in the dark.
rope heavy with distance
and saw it threading
through my own mesh
gold.
Not a glimmer
not a trick of light.
Your net had crossed mine
somewhere far out
where the current runs thick with shadow.
Gold through silver.
Silver through gold.
The ropes crossing so often
it became impossible
to see where one ended.
Some nights the river carried a sweetness
ferment rising from the reeds
thick enough to make the lantern flames dance.
Some nights the current snapped and lunged
dragging the mesh sideways
until the rope burned my palms raw again
Still the nets tangled deeper
dragging strange glitter from the dark water
stories bright as coins
others sharp as broken glass.
From the shore
if grandmother had been watching
she would only nod
and keep weaving.
Mar 8
Mar 8, 2026 at 5:08 PM UTC
I saw you as a
PASSERSBY and
It kinda made me LAUGH,
I tend to see you
ALL THE TIME,
as we are
CROSSING PATHS,
I do not know
your WHEREABOUTS, or
to WHERE is your
LOCATION,
All I know is that you
must LIVE NEAR,
as you TRAVEL to your
DESTINATION.
You may be on your
way to WORK,
Then again, maybe
I'M WRONG,
My MIND is STEADY
WONDERING as I
CONTINUE to MOVE
RIGHT ALONG,
I know
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
about you,
as we CONTINUE to
TRAVEL DEAR FRIEND, but
ONE THING I AM
MOST CERTAIN OF IS:
WE WILL BE
CROSSING
PATHS AGAIN!!!!
SO, FAREWELL AND
UNTIL THEN!!!!
B.R.
Date: 5/10/2024
Sep 10, 2024
Sep 10, 2024 at 8:08 PM UTC
i stand at the pedestrian crossing
white parallel lines aged by rubber
i wait for another person
and i cross
my brain goes white with parallel lines
i stop
in the middle of the street
for a second
sometimes i wish a car would
take me then
sometimes i wish a truck would
knock me out
is it worth the trauma
of gradeschoolers?
is it worth the clean up of city hall?
and how would they portray me?
a suicidal maniac who gets people in prison?
or merely an idiot with nothing better to do
other than cause chaos?
scene of the crime
outlined in white chalk against
white parallel lines
brain matter splattered on an SUV's windshield
funny
they can't find my eyes.
Oct 4, 2023
Oct 4, 2023 at 8:13 AM UTC
Saw the bean pole and its roots
arguing outdoor with two oppressors
bean pole treated unfavourably
its on foreign soil doused in free milk
but reminded
its just another border crosser
from a rubber dinghy from Calias
Saw the bean pole housed
in nursery and greenhouse to propagate
now rooted anew its given nutrients
but it must do as ordered
for no matter what
its just another border crosser
from a rubber dinghy from Calias
Saw bean pole growing tendrils
leaves unfold green to catch sunshine
but now a puppet amongst others
who bend and shape at will
bean pole see that plant next to you
its taking your nutrients away
go block its sun
do as we say or else
just remember you're just another crosser
from a rubber dinghy from Calias
Bean pole will grow and bear fruits
on foreign soil there's milk and honey
but for as long as the sun shines
the chains and barbs will hold
bean pole is just a stick
carrying tendrils to grow the beans
eaten by those of the land
who to them will always be
just another border crosser
from a rubber dinghy from Calias
Aug 1, 2021
Aug 1, 2021 at 7:11 AM UTC
He crossed the line
Entering my life
He ignored my resistance signs
Avoiding all my female land mines
There were no explosions
There was no protection
He crossed the line
Desecrating my sacred shrine
Nov 16, 2020
Nov 16, 2020 at 4:06 AM UTC
"How are you doing?"
those words pierced through my coat
bypassing the buttons that I didn't notice were open
until he spoke them
How I froze words intended to warm
into a pointed intrusion meant to warn
me of my icy exterior
It jabbed at my heart like icicles
pressed into the wound that throbbed and pulsed
He maintained eye contact when he asked
and my eyes were wide
with weariness I couldn't truly hide
but I could disguise
"I'm doing well and you?"
I replied to the man holding a stop-sign
my voice pleasant like springtime
when the wind rustled green-leafed trees
during the early sunrise
and the morning doves sang a sweet melody
covering up my shivering heart
"I'm doing good," he said
and nodded his head
in response to my quiet 'thank you'
he waited until I crossed the small street
eyes at my back, tracking my slow, steady steps
and when I got to the other side
I paused for my crossing guard said one more thing
"I hope you have a good day!"
and I said with a smile too bright, "You too,"
and went on my way
marching through the bright, winter day
hoping that this road would just take me away
Just take me away
Mar 31, 2020
Mar 31, 2020 at 12:50 PM UTC
I think about you a lot.
You’re always on my mind.
It’s honestly troubling sometimes,
how much you cross through my mind.
Never checking both ways, left, right, left.
Never considering how I would feel.
You don't tread lightly when exploring
my undiscovered corners and thoughts.
But that’s okay, I love you too much to blame you.
It’s unhealthy, maybe, maybe not, I know that I want you.
I need you.
but I don't love you.
Please just kiss me one time,
I’ve been dying to know you.
Just kiss me once more,
I've been dying to know
if this is real life.
A whirlwind of thoughts sweeps through, taking houses and trees right out the ground
Crashing, flashing, with a bang and a spark, it’s like magic
The flood of your eyes has fully taken over
And you’re the only thing on my mind.
Mar 14, 2019
Mar 14, 2019 at 11:23 AM UTC
When crossing roads look.
Look left, look right.
When kissing your lover,
don't look. Stay blind.
Feb 7, 2019
Feb 7, 2019 at 3:03 AM UTC
I thought I understood distance
When I learned at school it is defined as
“The amount of space between two points.”
I learned distance can be measured in various units
As steps, kilometres and miles
or even intervals of time.
I thought I understood distance
When I counted 2362 steps walking to school
And noticed my dad’s car meter increasing two miles
In three minutes driving me back home.
But my understanding had changed when I started measuring longer distances.
And attempting to cross them.
I travelled a distance measured in kilometres and hours to see him.
Such distances can be easily crossed.
Either I took the next train, or drove my car
Distance as an amount of space was two thousand kilometres
And distance as an amount of time was only a few hours.
I thought I understood distance,
But never the amount of space between two specific points;
My lips and his lips.
I travelled a distance measured in bottles of wine and years to kiss him.
Such distances can’t be easily crossed.
I could walk miles of skin
And distance as an amount of space between us
Could extend tiresome.
But such distances aren’t necessarily a barrier.
I have crossed all the oceans we created
I counted all the bodies
And I have indulged in his lips.
It took me two bottles of wine and twenty years
To actually understand distance
But my understanding is obsolete
For him and I ,
Are still two distant entities.
Sep 17, 2018
Sep 17, 2018 at 7:54 AM UTC
Look at everything I've done
There is no forgiving this
Even still, all I did was run
I ran from it all
I'm gone
I departed to a new place
Where no one could know
This dreaded face
I spent my time on the train
Afraid
Time has come to Fall
The color red was all around
Each leaf is a memory hiding
Things that shouldn't be found
The wait comes to an end
Where I will take
The first step
Towards a new life
And right away
"Welcome to our town!"
"There's no need to frown!"
"Come on, let's be friends!"
Rushed by all the villagers
"Hey, I'll show you around."
The young miss
Said to me.
So then she went off, guiding me.
This was the next step
In this life
No
Is this forgiveness?
The world has given me a
Second chance
This is a new life
A new Me
I'll turn over a new leaf
I can make the change
Past, present, future
Past doesn't matter
And we live in the present
Fighting for our future
"Hey, miss,
Let's strive forward in this town...
Together."
This is now my town
Our town
Something far greater
Than even destiny.
Aug 21, 2018
Aug 21, 2018 at 6:17 PM UTC
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You
Me You
Me You
Me You
Me Us You
Me You
Me You
Me You
Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Me
You Goodbye Me
Jun 27, 2018
Jun 27, 2018 at 8:28 PM UTC
A strange creature stands guard.
His dark hood conceals a face beneath,
no features twitch
only death can speak.
A thin bone finger unfolds
from sleeves of black
pointing with a quiver
towards the crossing,
calling as he laughs.
Bent rotten wood and hanging limbs
create a canopy of haunting trim
My extremities shake violent,
fear suffocates the mind
A voice ever so silent
urges me across the line
Mar 16, 2018
Mar 16, 2018 at 12:45 PM UTC
Crossing the road
When I was eight years old,
I was sure that cars would stop
At the little girl in red.
From the other side,
The stretch seems like forever;
Running fast from something,
Or someone I wasn't sure of.
Mom would scold,
Friends would shout cold;
Warm gustling winds,
Passing swiftly was home.
Crossing the road,
Now I'm twice as old,
I'm sure the car didn't miss me,
Because I missed it instead.
Jan 5, 2017
Jan 5, 2017 at 7:49 AM UTC
To cross bridges, let's have faith,
In the ultimate survival of the human race,
Why demonise migrants this way?
We're humans, just the same,
Even terrorists who use their creed
As a mask for greedy power, indeed,
If we spread brotherhood far and wide,
We could cross bridges that divide......
Dec 20, 2016
Dec 20, 2016 at 11:20 PM UTC
As a sensible,
As a logical,
And a well informed fellow
I asked that when you meet the Devil
Where do you draw the line?
Quick wit, to leave me assured
You affirmed, my friend, I'll never cross this line
Persistent and fiendish, as Devils are
He barreled through the line, with evil in his eye
Thankful to have a friend, I asked, is this enough?
Uneasiness overcame me when you said it was okay.
Quick wit, to leave me assured
You affirmed, my friend, I'll never cross this line
But he truly was hell, this ****** Devil
Carelessly he pushed right through, past the line again.
Worried, I asked, well surely we're in danger?
Of course not, he replied, siding with Devil and his plan
Quick wit, to leave me assured
You affirmed, my friend, I'll never cross this line
With no limit, his forked tongue just laughed
Storming through again, no one in his way
Terrified, I pleaded, this nonsense had to stop
My friend, now foe, said this is the only way
How foolish I must be to,
To ever believe a line that couldn't be crossed.
And to think you'd stand by me.
Nov 22, 2016
Nov 22, 2016 at 8:44 AM UTC
Short dark hair under
a dogeared baseball cap
tipped my way
a perfect smile on your face
crisp white pocketed T-shirt
dark blue Levi jeans
worn all-weather Chippewa boots
rugged, young and handsome
holding a stop sign for children
best crossing guard ever.
Cherie Nolan © 2016
Sep 22, 2016
Sep 22, 2016 at 8:40 AM UTC