Late

I get lost in lines they make

An illegal U-turn leading to a mistake

Between red and green lights

While driving too slow at night

I get lost with a GPS that orders me around

Two streets away from your house

I walk in, trying not to make a sound

Late again

Much too late

“Where were you? Did you get lost again?”

I was watching the stars and got lost in my head

Connection

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After the sun has set

And the birds have vanished, to places I can not see

I lay awake

Much too aware of my essence

That thing I try to avoid

That humanity that gives me much pain, and sometimes pleasure

I see it

A fire that does not burn, nor is red

I see my soul trying to connect

But these webs are much too wide

And your humanity prevents you from admitting the need

To be connected, once more

 

 

My Title

The child that stood on tip toes

Trying to see the men outside

Through bullet holes- I watched

Much too excited for change

“It will be beautiful, like America… like you see on TV.” One solider promised me

That was back in 2003

When ISIS was a nightmare yet to form

When angels wore uniforms

When enemies were clear to see

When I did not know the difference between you and me

But now my skin gives me a label I did not earn

Not a’Doctor’

‘Woman’

‘Rich’ nor ‘Poor’

I wear a title that I can not for the life of me shed

But that is a thing I dare not regret

 

Adapting 

In a crack between two bricks

I left a message as I was taken away

And Freed from the rooftop 

I was allowed to visit the beach in May

Rain disturbed the strangers

But I was so happy to be free

And as time passed

I forgot the rooftop

And those strangers were much like me

.

.

(Note: I grew up in Iraq,  where we spent most days on the rooftops. Now I face the ocean on a rainy vacation. )