A poem by Sofia Sears

two roads intersect at midnight

the world cracks apart as the cars collide

 

the lightning prys through broken windows into empty houses

tries to grasp onto life where there is none anymore

 

her spine cracks as he shoves her to the ground

he says he really didn’t mean to

 

sterility and cream colored curtains; last words

her mother’s body still in the hospital bed

 

a dog runs across a path heedlessly

the splat of flesh and heart shrieks; no one hears

 

a child is asleep in her bed, waiting for santa claus

and she won’t wake up tomorrow

 

we still celebrate christmas when fathers and mothers die

we still rejoice around the fire when we know no plump man will be bringing us anything tonight

we still live for false dreams like they are angels come to bring us our salvation

 

the world gives and gives and gives

but more often, it takes and takes and takes.

 

no rhyme. no rhythm. no explanations.

no questions.

 

christmastime

trying to stoke the universal flame that swallows all

and tries to create something beautiful from the ash.