But it's Only Bodies

The song in their voices broke open like two halves of a coconut.

we drank from their nectar these tunes

that only made us remember everything we lost

the home we didn't have permission to return to

the family that waited so patiently with aching hearts

still, we drank deep

formed a new meaning for this thirst only their music could quench

to build a river we can swim through or inevitably drown

so here we are

children of a waiting game we are not willing to lose

so we mother ourselves on how to live

school our demons to that song

and sing ourselves another lullaby brave enough to permit our leaving

even if it sounds like something being broken

now? we cannot drown

now? the waves become drum beats

slapping us back as we run to safety

all the while knowing

we cannot hide from a tsunami of our own making but we try

to swim

to float

to live life… lifelessly