family tree
bark resembling something like
a strip tease
peel it back
and reveal the
bad memories
leaving you to drown with your enemies,
you can’t see,
love drowning out your ability
to keep yourself afloat,
better not rock that boat,
you’ll hit rock bottom
suffocating on second-hand smoke,
thought you could save them all,
you’re caught in deaths choke hold
eyes set like flint
grasping at your beloved fools gold.
growing out of optimism
like the suns gone too cold,
like you’ve grown too old,
don’t you know hearts fold, too?
like even if the sky is blue
don’t mean your minds afresh and new,
don’t mean today is better than yesterday,
but don’t think this faith stuff is a ruse,
it’s all true
my dear.
my dear,
the fear that held your lungs in chains,
making sure you stayed afraid
of the dark that consumed your brain,
can no longer retrieve your name.
the roots of your past
have broken your glass
ceiling
breaching
systems that were meant to disrupt your healing
and rob your peace
but don’t shake,
don’t fall into pieces
because all you needed was Jesus,
all you still need is Jesus.
don’t fret
don’t hurt
don’t twist
don’t turn
take a breath as you take a knee.
keep still
it’ll burn us
he’s there
in the furnace
send a prayer up as you fall asleep.
gabrielle. 