Shelter
By Carolyn V. Crawford AKA Rachel Dunkerque
Against the wind she bent and swayed
She fought to shield me from the pain,
That burst along on gusty gales
Then turned to angry, pelting rain.
I tried to hear the scattered words,
That bounced from roof, to pine, then oak,
In search of open space like birds
To soar beyond her heavy cloak.
"Keep still," I screamed. "I wish to hear
The secret that you hide so well."
"Is it too dreadful for my ears?"
"Is it so painful you can't tell?"
She moaned and bowed, then shook her leaves
And closed her cloak much tighter still.
"I hold this pain, this hurt, this grief
I hate to see it break your will."
"But you insist so I'll let go
This ache that threatens to split me wide
It's yours to face, this is your woe
I give you all that's hidden inside."
With quivering leaves turned toward the sky
As if to pray away the doom
She trembled deep, then with a sigh
Unleashed a ball of treacherous gloom.
Such pain! It screamed about my head,
Soared up then swirled and took its aim.
I staggered, stumbled . . . sank in dread
Collapsed as it devoured my frame.
"You've lost. You've lost. He's gone away.
He's gone. With him you are no more.
Your life is gone, you're dead, you're gray
Give up. Give in. He's gone for sure.
"Those tears, so sad, slide down your face
As you lay quaking in the sand
But they won't change what passed this way
They cannot take you from my hands."
Though weak I forced my eyes to watch
My soul float up beyond my reach
Out past the tree far from the pouch
That once tried hard to shelter me.
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