#Hashtag

Have they brought back our girls?

Hash tag.

The ones we lost – over there – look. Can you see?

I am her.

Sitting in a dark room – a body lay on me,

As I close my eyes, numb to the pain, I scream.

And nobody is there to hear me. I am lost.

Am I gone forever? What is this hell that surrounds me? My earth is scorched.

I was once a springing youth – I miss the sun.

Will you share with me your sun?

Together as one.

Hands up! Don’t shoot!

Hash tag.

My son, did you do what they asked you to do?

Those men – over there – look. Can you see?

The ones in blue. They carry the gun filled with ammunition.

Chop one. Chop two. Chop me. Chop you.

I am him.

Losing faith, I cry at night deeply in my raging mind – now

On this street corner on this block with all my guys

You don’t see ME. YOU fear me.

For how much longer will you live in fear? I am only springing in my youth.

…my, its cold here – I miss the sun.

Will you share with me your sun?

Together as one.

Women’s equality

Hash tag.

Early morning to the river I go- just over there – look. Can you see?

My thick soles kissing the dirt road, the rocks have already cut me long ago.

Empty pale in hand and child on my back.

I am her.

Who has been down this road before, today a slight detour

Turn left by the mahogany tree – the other women will not see me.

To the clinic I go – shhh- no one must know.

The bruises on my back and upper lip – fresh traces of the place I call my home.

Fear consumes me, I must walk in the shadow-

Eyes down to the ground – my youth has sprung

I walk alone, child on my back – I miss the sun.

Will you share with me your sun?

Together as one.

Illegal migration

Hash tag.

The ones who drown- down there- look. Can you see?

The journey has just begun – so many of us, but I am now only 1.

My brother was with me, but has not made it through the night.

1 less body over the rotting wooden ledge – into the violent sea.

I am him.

Do you see me? Worked for months to walk from my home and journey

Through and through. Miles gone by; shattered and tattered

The sea now leaves a bitter taste- I almost made it

To that place- the one across the vast rippling/swaying blue

The one with so much promise! And I with big dreams.

Now I lay me down to sleep in the wailing waters- so dark, so deep.

The numbing pain becomes me- I miss the sun.

Will you share with me your sun?

Together as one.

Remember when we sat by the firelight? Deep in dark Africa?

That light- that fire an infrastructure that enabled an inner structure – a solid core.

Now you can see.

Remember my daughter- the lost one

Remember my son – for he is gone

Remember my mother – who silently carries on

Remember my father – at the bottom of a foreign sea.

Walk with me, let us go…quietly outside…

The gentle caress of a shining star.

The tender warmth glowing from afar.

Now you must feel.

The one above- up there- look!

Springing with glory- today if I miss my sun,

Will you share with me your sun? Imagine.

Together as one.