This familiar wind
Hot and dry
Carrying pieces of my old self
As it hurries by
And smells that no longer exist
Perfumes no money could buy
This familiar wind
Carries pieces of my old river
Euphrates
Reminding me of nights spent together
Eating ice cream
Watching the candles light up the stream
Making wishes
Dreaming a dream
This wind passes much too quick
And I rush looking for a jar
Or a bottle
I want to save you
For my selfish reasons
And trap you
Like the memories that trap me
In a place that I no longer know
If it still exists
If it could resist
The bombings and the shootings on a small town
How could you, wind, turn this around
And take me to a moment of peace
As I float
Another piece
Of history
That no one remembers
Organic matter
That’s easily recycled
Easily blended
Easily camouflaged
Between the wind and the sand
I reach out my hand
As if to hold yours
My old self
You did good
You escaped that neighborhood
Where no child, or adult
Was safe
Where bombs did not discriminate
Stuck between love and hate
You soared far
And maybe you have the winds to thank
Or a God somewhere
Watching a dreaming child
And allowing her to yet dream
Oh how these dreams have changed
How your life has changed
Old self
You did great
