By Najma Salad
THE BLUE SAND AND RED CRABS
She told me to keep my feet away
because the blue sand was filled with red crabs
never quite understood why the sand was blue
But it must have been her blurred vision I assume
The red crabs are also a figment of her mind
tied up to her iris as they shrank looking to find
something or anything to explain why
the blue sand had red crabs
A simple explanation would’ve shattered her dreams
so I let my mother believe the blue sand was truly blue
not because she couldn’t see how cream the sand was
but because the blue hue she saw helped her see the bright red crabs
She told me to keep my feet on the blue sand
because the warmth helped the red crabs
DEEP SEA
They took a deep sigh as they looked
viewing the wide-open window casting light
as if time stopped they were hooked
Their wounds were cast away out of sight
For that moment all they could see was the kite
They wished to hold the string of hope
but time began working and the darkness followed
They watched each other slip away into the abyss
CRASHING TIDES
Everything starting to crack
as the water rose to my lungs
everything started to go black
as the tides started to collide
Everything was just beginning
but I was reaching my ending
SALTY WATER
bittersweet words filled the air
soaking up my warmth, I couldn’t bare
rivers meet where I sleep
choking me beyond repair
I ask for thicker sheets
because I need the heat
My bitter-sweet home is here
waiting for me to enter
salty waters drowned my thoughts
A chaos filled my heart
My bittersweet home was the four walls
That met at the corner of my bed
THALASSOPHILE
She told me she loved the sea
describing the ambiance of peace
that combed her thoughts for weeks
She said she loved the sea
as she watched the tides turn
soaking her legs in the warm sun
but she always found a way to return
from the same sea, she claimed she loved
leaving everything but taking the memories
That’s why I didn’t believe you, my beloved
when you say you love me
I picture the same sea you yearned for
but left behind searching for more
THE LONELY SEA SHORE
Silverlining between the cracks of dawn
brought Bewitching times of burdening sorrow
Traces of familiar footprints gone
Because they weren’t guaranteed tomorrow
An empty hollow between the breaking night
Caused a great deal of loneliness
My chest began to feel tight
Like straps of memories that last only once
Silverlining between the cracks of dawn
Brought me to see the lonely seashore
in places like this is where I truly hope to live another tomorrow
HOLD YOUR BREATH
I told you to hold your breath
you must anticipate the things that follow
I told you to hold your breath
because I thought that you would get to see what followed
not accepting your empty seat in front of me
I told you to hold your breath
So the pain would lessen
I told you to hold your breath
When they called you over
I told you to hold your breath
even when it was hard to swallow from all the pain they inflicted upon you
I told you to hold your breath
I don’t mean to cause this empty hallow
I thought holding your breath would help stop them from hurting you
sorry I made life hard for you
THE LIVING WITHIN
Was there ever something you lived for
giving it your every bit till you were sore
Was there ever something that made you smile
that made you stop thinking for a while
was there something that’s living within you
telling you to fight for what you’re going through
For some, it’s their mothers and fathers
for other’s brother’s and their dollars
but for some, it’s only today that they fight for
because they died within before they found something to live for