#ReaderSubmission:
For the most part, I stood motionless.
The water drops fell evenly and by listening to them
I made a vow to myself
For the most part, my consciousness drifted far away
Faraway
Right next to you
For the most part
I wept silently
And kept on believing
in being invincible
On such an occasion
I stood up quietly and shouted wordlessly
May I stand here to the end of time
my two legs firmly glued to the ground
a monument to being simply alive
like a tree, unmoving
and yet
yet
yet
yet
For the most part
I danced in the wind
and submitted to its will
bending
without resistance
shamelessly
I enjoyed being played around
Being enveloped in cold arms of restraint
and freedom
Such a game you never played with me
even so
even so
It’s you I yearn after
day after day
Within the darkness
Seamless ways of laughter
for the sake of the ones who are here no longer
to live twice, thrice,
four times, a thousand times
for all those who died
for all the happiness that was wished to you by frail hands clinging to life
for all that
you ought to smile, laugh, roll around
be kind, be brave, be strong
conquer the universe and attain supreme love
But
But
But
Just so you know,
I’m not bragging or anything but
I’m wearily wearing my weights like flowers upon my forehead and
my unhappiness craftily hidden
I hush up my tears
and offer my hand
Just a little bit
I pray for tomorrows
Just one more time
to hold that treasured hand within mine
close to my heart
waiting for the morning.
At the very least.
At the very least.
-Anna Kalimar
Painting by Kai Samuels-davis