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| Art by Arna Baartz |
She
comes to an abyss,
Across
it she saw a warm dwelling & realized how tired she'd grown.
How
much she'd forgiven.
A
ways down the cliff edge she saw what looked like a bridge
It's
faint and dark where it crossed, she could barely make it out
But
she imagined
It
connecting
To
shelter.
She
stepped into what seemed only shadow but she just believed so much
Seemed
simple,
innocent
love to home,
Slipping.
She
tracked back.
She
found her footing again
&
felt foolish
Thinking
it so easy to cross the abyss
Almost
like a trick someone else left
She
walked further
Thinking
their must be a way.
Another
bridge seemingly built by a legacy
Grand
Stately,
It
seemed a formality of performance was demanded to cross,
A
secret courtesy expected
A
lock,
A
gate.
On
the other side of the bridge she saw flashes of light like cameras
flashing.
A
gust of thick wind pushed her to the gates & in her ears she
heard,
'You're
perfect.' 'You're just what we need.' 'I want to be you!!
A
frothing pulled that she struggled to hold her ground within
Sliding
across & down to the limb, the trunk, reaching to hold on,
Crawling
she pulled from the force of the locked door.
Shuddered
from the pull of it.
Vomited
from being seen as things she never knew herself to be.
Shaking
she followed the tree line along the cliff,
Passing
what appeared more innocent shadow bridges
She
continued,
Less
interested in falling
It
becomes colder & her toes begin to numb,
Then
there
Almost
blue
A
frozen bridge
Like
a tidal wave of power
Still
in time
solid
Muscles
tight & tense joints
Her
foot taps to test the ice
&
eases up the ample arch
As
she skates the bridge narrows & constricts until she's walking
across a fine line
Black
below
&
white dividing it
Where
has she gotten herself
She
falls back hardly able to breath
Gasping
as lightly as she can
Tears
burn her eyes & she scoots gently back
Slowly
Unsure
she wants to try again
Wishing
she never had
She
makes it back to the edge
Before
the abyss
She
collapses to her side
&
curls into a ball
Staring
Across
a schism
So
dark
&
hidden
She
can't see the hut
In
the darkness
She
forgets why it was ever
So
alluring.
She's
tired now
Right
here.
Just
stay.
Feral.An excerpt from Single Mothers Speak on Patriarchy - out now!
"...how much she had forgiven...."
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