Poem by Charles Frederickson; Graphic by Saknarin Chinayote
On other side of stonewall
Chipped mortar poison sumac cracks
Envisioning what it must be
Like to live without within
Never passive always active empathy
Passionately longing to tip imbalance
Curious about life beyond barricades
Barbed willpower bare survival existence
Barred entry mindsets slammed shut
Yearning to believe in something
Which reshapes prolonged struggle’s purpose
Besides pain suffering despair loss
Crusty loaves vinegary wine miracles
Leavened dough refuses to rise
Lonesome doves spoon-fed leftover crumbs
Scavenger pigeons grounded wingtips clipped
Shriveled sour grapes sun-dried sultanas
Bittersweet revenge scapegoat milk homogenized
Besieged soil stubble olive pits
Muddy hut roof caved in
Blessed depressed nothing to celebrate
Birthday candle wishes snuffed out
Pesky ointment flies hovering swat
Bottleneck terrorist label coming unglued
Chipped mortar poison sumac cracks
Envisioning what it must be
Like to live without within
Never passive always active empathy
Passionately longing to tip imbalance
Curious about life beyond barricades
Barbed willpower bare survival existence
Barred entry mindsets slammed shut
Yearning to believe in something
Which reshapes prolonged struggle’s purpose
Besides pain suffering despair loss
Crusty loaves vinegary wine miracles
Leavened dough refuses to rise
Lonesome doves spoon-fed leftover crumbs
Scavenger pigeons grounded wingtips clipped
Shriveled sour grapes sun-dried sultanas
Bittersweet revenge scapegoat milk homogenized
Besieged soil stubble olive pits
Muddy hut roof caved in
Blessed depressed nothing to celebrate
Birthday candle wishes snuffed out
Pesky ointment flies hovering swat
Bottleneck terrorist label coming unglued
No Holds Bard Dr. Charles Frederickson & Saknarin Chinayote together comprise PoeArtry. Flutter Press has just published Charles’ new chapbook fanTHAIsies.
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