On the Edge

On The Edge He lay flat on the floor On the edge of his mind's cliff Taking notes Wondering is this life worth living He tried to remember Grasp onto Happier times Shadows of light Fluttered beyond his grasp Teasing Evaporating Hiding Figments wrapped in glittering paper Promising Tempting Geometrically angled Away from him He felt the coolness of the tile Terracotta pressing against his forehead Soothing Absorbing his fever Steadying him Whispering Promising relief "Let your blood accentuate my redness" " I will protect your bones" Light flows through stained glass Christ's brilliant blue eyes Piercing his sadness Reassuring him There will be more days Brighter lights Warmth not clay Sadness shall be left to yesterday The floor will not be fed today It is washed with his salty tears The edge vanishes Was it ever there? One moment Graciously Turned to years He sits in a pew Looks up away from himself It now seems so clear He gets up Walks across the floor Walks out the silent door Deciding once and for all He doesn't need Or want This horrid place Any more His heart is healed God goes where he goes The suffering he lived no longer grows What he remembers sets him free He will not be lost to history He chooses a life of Joy not misery. Dedicated to native children abused in church and residential schools. Their culture was systematically stripped away. in some cases much worse things happened behind what should have been hallowed walls. In writing this I question if this piece was honoring to Native people. As I thought about this I realized that this piece speaks to their resilience as a people. Despite what was done to them they have found a way to hold onto their culture traditions art and language. We have much that we can learn from them. Written by: Richard J. Lamoureux www.wisedummypoet.com