| |
The Sniffling Child
I woke up suddenly and leaned against the helpless wall
hoping that it would support my abounding weight but instead
I had to rely on the courage and faith that kept me alive over the years.
With sweat streaming down my tired face and tears filled my weary eyes
I sat in the wee hours of the morning pondering the little girl's cry.
A cry of desperation, a cry resonating from the depths of her heart.
I could still envisioned her frightened face and trembling arms
as she emerged from the dark room screaming, reluctant to go with them.
I can still feel her arms clinging desperately to my hands
and her tearful face buried in my prayerful chest.
Moments ago I wandered in my sleep to the Middle East,
browsing around a shopping arcade looking aimlessly at stores until I ended up in
an enormous three story level house and inquisitively walked through its doors.
I explored the interior of the house but no one was to be found.
I yelled and hallor but nobody answered.
All of a sudden a creepy sensation overshadowed me
forcing me to cautiously walked towards the basement,
There I pounced upon a small pocket of smoke oozing from the corner of the
the basement steps. I quickly poured water over it and put out the ignited fire
that came from pieces of coal heaped upon the wooden steps.
The brightness of the evening turned swiftly into night
And the giant house stood still in the desert without a single trace of light
deepening my curiosity, mounting my suspicion and heightening my anxiety.
I left the house and searched all around still no one was to be found.
I went inside the house again and some women suddenly appeared
All seemed to be in a sedated and drunken state.
One of them walked politely with me toward the basement and
I showed her the extinguished coal on the steps .
In splits second scores of women emerged
from different parts of the house
carrying several children in their impotent hands.
The women walked outside coercing the children to go with them
While the terrified children scream furiously
heightening the tension of the darkened night.
Scores of vehicles stood in line waiting
Waiting to take the startled children away.
A little girl ran back and clinged desperately to my waist,
she cried so loudly and pleaded for them not
to hand her over to the child's protective services.
I took the child in my arms and rest her head upon my chest
Immediately she stopped screaming and start sniffling
I assured her that everything was going to be alright.
I woke up with the tearful child sniffling upon my prayerful chest.
©2014 Christine Phillips
Copyright ©
Christine Phillips
|