I felt weightless
As the boat
moved closer
to the pier and
The wind wrapped its arms
around my tired body as
I fantasized about different
                 with fervor

In the crossing  
Every siloed part of
me awakened
Every moment of the leaving
draws me closer to myself
I was drifting into memories that were dreams of
home

On the other side
I felt the sting of
ropes binding my passage
as they cut my skin
scarred and scabbed
telling a story unseen 
a visible trail
         ignored

Re – remembering
I claw to undo
The knots cemented 
I untether myself
from the moment 
gasping for air 
under the invisible load                           
of motherhood

It is only in the crossing 
that I find space to imagine
or remember
a life lived different 

The weight of deviation from
the stories that we are told
keeps us quiet
in fear of judgment 

I am not alone 
I see (silent) cries
of unrecognition
and discontent
and hear the loud
parts played
to keep the story
going 

Crushed under the weight
of silence
I dream that
you speak
Louder
so I can breathe

in understanding and connection

In the crossing