A bitter Winter
They offer a small discount
Selling all the trees
The Deal
We sealed the deal with
gems in exchange for freedom
invisible chains
worshipped, adored, and famous
the soul cries out for freedom
Morning, Midday
A crisp, lush midday
your music mix makes me move
to find the coffee
Unexpected Cappuccino
A voyeur from the door waiting for an empty street.
Walking alone in the crisp fog, it’s too early for coffee.
As my thoughts turn to the passing trees, Serendipity strikes as a cafe opens.
A table for one, a cappuccino and an almond croissant.
Dreams of Victory
our parents glorified the war
courage in sacrifice, honour in duty, and pride in country
we dreamed of the victories
old enough to fight, green as grass
training for the glory and the adventure in a foreign land
an unexpected chance comes along
the nation we serve sent us here
arid land, mountains and dirt, a misunderstood religion
days turned into months and years
a child exploded near the wall yesterday during sunset
shoot and bombing without thinking
another day, another order to master, no time to think
the message from our masters came on a dirt hot day
we are leaving this place for good
the nation we serve decided to leave after 20 years
feeling unsound, we board a flight sending us back home
emptiness fills the neglected places
too much time to think about the war we lost, the impact
sitting at home watching current affairs
the Taliban rip down pictures of women, hide them away
the country regresses into a Theocracy
thoughts of sacrifice, honour, and pride
those thoughts are thoughts left behind in another time
these thoughts threaten my existence
my parents do not know me
I am a failure in the story of their glorified war stories
they have no stories to tell
Mum’s Love
Someone walked over my grave. The corners of the room keep the shadows, and the dim light reveals moving things I wish I could not see.
I fear the sparrows outside as insects crawl beneath my skin.
I feel Mum’s embrace, remember screaming, and now I’m in a white room.
Headlights
Lost in morning fog
the headlights give me away
Fresh wind on my face
Tea-Date by Roksana Tales
Tea for One
A cup of tea, for one; I sit alone with my archived thoughts.
A welcomed cup of tea, yet the thoughts are wicked and sorrowful.
Can’t we brush them away? If we did, then I wouldn’t be thinking about you.
I used to long for days alone. Now they are my everyday.
The Imagined Sea
Standing sideways to what was once the sea
imaginary wavelets lap at my dirt-covered feet
Sedimentary rocks hide traces of crustaceans
the breeze moves the trees, & stirs the unseen
Saltwater jewels adorn my ears, wrists, & neck
imaginary saltwater washes over me, the land
C & K 