Or Could There Ever Be Rainbows In Midst of a Storm?
After Syrian Migration by Helen Zughaib
Men and women
wearing rainbows
ready to ride waves
as though they
were clouds
beneath
a magic carpet
hands raised
they look in the same
direction
there must be
a benevolent God
guiding the fragile skiff
to safety
only one face looks back
making sure
that instant is alive
oblivious to thirst
oblivious to hunger
oblivious to sunburn
oblivious to brine
dripping over scorched skin
as long as the boat
is floating they
stick together
forming the same
rainbow defying
the tall waves
the angry scum
only one face looks back
making sure
the scene is recorded
First published by Riggwelter
Or Little Do You Know How A Bird's Song Rises
When I set out to paint a tree
a bird’s song rises
from each branching stem
sings its way
into a refugee tent
conjuring the warmth
of a mother's kiss
a song sinking into the mud
a song aching for cold hands
a song bleeding like sore soles
a song to erase the rising fumes
a song to protect from crumbling walls
a song for the comfort of an evening meal
a song bleached
a song deafened
a song for those fallen
a song for those in pain
a song ruffled by the wind
a song for those left behind
a song muffled by baby’s cries
a song beating inside the chest
a song soothing an infant’s dry lips
a song leaking from swollen nipples
a song bleached
a song deafened
a song for those fallen
a song for those in pain
a song lost in translation
a song in a new alphabet
a song to dig deep trenches
a song calling for clean sheets
a song to forget whistling bullets
a song to silence the voice of thunder
a song bleached
a song deafened
a song for those fallen
a song for those in pain
First published by Slant: A Journal of Poetry
From Or Did You Ever See The Other Side? (Press 53 2023)
Or Can't You See How They All Stare At Us Even The Birds Resting On Their Hands?
After The Immigrants' Boat by Marilene Sawaf
Packed against one another clothed in dreams
Upholding the flame of freedom for a mast
See how multicolored fish leap out around the hull
In quieted waters silvery fins quiver awaiting a net
Upholding the flame of freedom for a mast
Past and future fit into the wooden vessel
In quieted waters silvery fins quiver awaiting a net
While they rest under the shade of pregnant trees
Past and future fit into the wooden vessel
They are wearing Sunday clothes yet to be sewn
While they rest under the shade of pregnant trees
They sample ripened pomegranates and pink peaches
They are wearing Sunday clothes yet to be sewn
After fighting maddened waves for so long
They sample ripened pomegranates and pink peaches
They've slipped through the eye of a needle
After fighting maddened waves for so long
How sweet it is to be saved by the skin of one's teeth
They've slipped through the eye of a needle
Reaching a place where the wind is silent
How sweet it is to be saved by the skin of one's teeth
Future wraps itself around them in a colorful mantle
Reaching a place where the wind is silent
The cat slumbers as the restless dog rushes to the rooftop
First published by On The Seawall
From Or Did You Ever See The Other Side? (Press 53 2023)
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