Looking downward

as each foot

follows the other

Her legs no longer

wobble and shake

like a young fawn

She has earned

this movement

After all the continuous

beat downs and letdowns

She has lifted herself up

 

Digging her bare toes

into the almost muddy soil

There is an endless

field of green

before her

Begging her

to get lost inside

a perfectly plowed pathway

an endless tunnel

of sweet smelling crop

 

Closing her eyes

she takes

a deep breath

Letting the true mother

embrace her senses

Letting it hold

her memories and fears

 

Bright flashes

mimicking  sunlight

saturate her mind

Each ray baptizing

the dirty remembrances

 

A sharp slap in the face

Sanitized

A blackened eye

Erased

A rolling tear

Dried up

The angry arms that

held her down

Tied back

The broken hearts

that beat her

Transplanted

 

Reaching out her arms

she pulls back

the layers

of her hurt

the layers

of the plants

Stepping into

the labyrinth

of her life

 

She runs

Razor sharp leaves

dig into her arms

leaving hints of crimson

on her suntanned flesh

She does not feel it

 

She sprints

Leaving it all behind

in the muddied shadows

of her footprints

 

Her heartbeat

pounding

Her soul

numb

Her hair damp

from sweat and tears

 

There is no end

to this marathon

So she will take

her guidance

from the field sparrows

from the earth

that He made

just for her

She will fly

She will sing

She will take this gift

and beat the odds

She will sustain

*

© 2013 Sharlie Lattimer all rights reserved