Saturday, June 24, 2023

SEA GRAVE

by Sarwa Azeez




We peered through bullet holes
to see our future 
on the other side 
fled home—
dodging fires 
and gunshots.

We held on 
to tree limbs that 
despite being weighed low
by snow and wind
guided us back 
to safety.

We wandered astray
along the haunting 
mountain trails
Our fast-beating hearts 
chased 
by the soldiers’ ghost cries 
but our gazes raised
heavenward
beyond those sky-piercing summits.

Our roaming bodies
stumbled on a vast blue tomb—
The waves thundered
like wrathful gods 
who were lifting us 
through clouds
and mist. 


Sarwa Azeez is a Kurdish poet and translator. She is a Fulbright alumni, got her second masters in Creative Writing from Nebraska-Lincoln University. Her debut poetry pamphlet collection Remote was published in the UK by 4Word in 2019. Her work has appeared in many publications such as Parentheses Journal, Writing for A Woman's Voice, Notre Dame Literary, Wingless Dreamer and elsewhere.