Soul Cry
Collaborative Effort with Tre L. Loadholt
*Musical Selection: The Pointer Sisters Yes, We Can on repeat.*
You wanted me to crumble —
you figured I would.
wither away, dust in the palm of your
twitching hands,
but, I willed myself into
a steam rolling ahead in dangerous places,
unafraid to show you just how
much I can bear.
Free-spirited, yearning with desire,
I can see you captured by the evil
of your own tongue — latching on
to the bitter words slipping through
your lips.
oil and vinegar in water,
imperfect match.
I can shake you ‘til
you loose the swollen souls
in your belly.
Go on and cry out
I hear you.
here we stand
the ache you want me to be
because, i always am
negotiating
what used to be
this will not turn out well
i need a hum and a drink
smoked into a southern song
you, my love,
are off-key.
splendid abandon
i must move forth
that place,
where i give more than i take
entangled in your misery
my song, not my own
like steam, from a pot of beans
or waves rushed to the shores
i will be making my own music notes
to still my mind
my mind gets the least peace
And, there is no stopping
the raging thoughts,
when a cry waits, it builds
into ages of pent-up anger
waiting for the perfect moment
to exit.
I allow it a safe space
amongst brittle bones and
worried lips.
gently, I lose myself
one tear at a time.
tears turned bodies of water
waters that like life and honey
honey that soothe and heal
no more cries of rage
gray mists and flooded fields
tears for you shall i cry
no more.
i allow the trickling streams
amongst praying clouds
beside pond turtles
cicadas, locusts, and butterflies
i lose myself
in spiders that weave webs overhead
