maple-keys

ClutchTheDawn

there’s still some dust in her hair
but she smiles
a big, white-toothed grin
framed by skin darker than a Darfur night
she laughs about the hour walk
she used to make
in the name of clean drinking water
and says, of all things, that she misses home
I show her how to make helicopters out of maple-keys,
while she complains about her strict older brothers
but then, they’re only filling in for a father
whose blood still stains the dirt
back in the home she misses
and her mother crossed the ocean
but she is beaten
flinching at the sight of men
and I don’t need to ask why
all I can do is marvel at her smile
and all the things to be learned from it
we toss a couple maple-keys
she smiles, and so do I

Grasshopper

I like the worldy awareness to this piece. You do a really good job of observing life and translating it to your work. Iv'e cheated myself by not clicking your threads earlier

ClutchTheDawn

thanks I've often noticed that the people I meet from war-torn places, seem to have a better grip on happiness.

Grasshopper

I just wanted to bump this because I think folks should read it...
One my favorites on here in a long time..!