Family- poem

By, Jess Dickson


Family is forever
Blood is thicker than water
I’ve heard these things said
But nothing is forever and blood means pain
I bleed upon the hands of my father
Shed tears on the feet of my mother
There is nothing sacred in this place

Family is love
Love is eternal
Someone once told me
And I laughed until I cried
I hide in the corners of my room
Pray for the rising of the sun, terrified of the moon’s companions
There is no peace to be found here

Family is a circle
A circle never ends
I read this somewhere
So I took out my pencil and began to draw
Within my circle I sketched the figures of those I loved
At the top, in my teenage ink
Family

The Wall- poem

By, Jess Dickson


I’ve leaned against
Hid behind
Loved
Hated
This structure that has become as integral to my breath
As the heart that beats in my chest

Some have tried to climb
Push down
Break
Cried
In protest to this barrier that keeps me apart
Allowing no one to enter in

I’ve created my space here
Safely solitaire
My hands reach beyond, to touch the skin of unity
To feel the softness of love beyond
Pulling back before I am reminded of my place

Some have tried to join me
To sit in my silence
Trying to reach the one they know hides inside
To touch the tears of silk
Patiently still, they wait on the other side

Rising Whole- poem

By, Jess Dickson

Tearful rain falls from eyes that have seen too much
Landing in a torrent of memories
She scrambles to the summit
Fingers bleeding, holding on
Dreams float, fluffy hope clouds drifting
Her eyes bear witness
Her body wears the scars
A map of depair and nights spent hiding
Clinging to dreams not quite believed
She takes each step, one…by one…
A soldier of resilience
Never giving up, determined heels grip the ledge
Gazing into currents of pain she has weathered
Laying down, closing weary lids
Her hair and pain drifts down to meet the healing mist of truth
Her chariot awaits to carry her burden into the shadows
In peace she sleeps to rise whole