ninestars

inspired by "Roselily" by Alice Walker

Someone has painted smog across the sky

And made her hands soft–

No more sewing needles or thorny flowers

5

warm droplets of sweat

collect

on the back of my neck

drip

am i ready

4

heart threatening

Cold, unforgiving wind batters against my patchwork coat as I shove my way through crowded streets. Tiny snowflakes glitter on my eyelashes and my breath freezes as soon as it hits the air.

let me tell you what i saw today

when i was downtown with 200k others

in the heart of the city of the nation,

a swamp raised to stand above the world. with

flags & 

signs &

When you were a kid,

When you were still learning animal names,

And awed by the world around you,

What did it mean when you looked up,

At other kids, at adults,