peace be

By Cat Robinson

stealing
       the wind 
       from twined time
       adrift in spite
       afraid of drowning
       in itself

it be waves
crashing into the body
               a body
not         my body

it be skeletal
        cracked & muscle-less
        clanking joints
        chattering jaw

be quiet passer-by
slinking through streets
                 dackering limbs
                 dangling
                 in darkness
        
be raging warrior
          eagle eyed
          & thumping 
          chest

be eyes shut tightly 
          trying to forget
          clutching fingers
          & tacky tongue

it be red clay
     earth’s blood
     gruesome mill
     staining palms 
     gravely 

it be habit
     after haunting
     before hysteria

it be banked
     immunity, 
     refusing to aid 
     perishing body

be observer
     of injustice
     judge & jury
     that turns a blind
     eye

be permanent
     keepsake that
     be off kilter
     before
    
                     it leaves & leaves & leaves

​

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Cat Robinson is a young Black writer and poet from South Carolina. They are currently a MFA in poetry candidate at UNC Greensboro. Their work investigates how the experiences of the self and vaster concepts in life are reflected on and through the body.