Street roots., October 30, 2015, Page 13, Image 13

Poetry
P a g e 14
Shadow Boxing
What’s Behind
the Mirror
By Avendor
The archer sun
Shot its yellow rays
Over the. silent landscape
In the time of my peril.
Illuminating
The green coniferous forests
That were mute and still
And the buildings, which like sphinxes
Did not say a word...
In the time of my suffering.
And as I sat by the window
Agonizing beneath the heavens
Looking for a sign, searching for anything
That could help turn the tide
I wondered...
How will healing waters
Come to this dry riverbed.
Where is the great liberator
Who can overcome the despots in my head.
Are these chains of darkness and pain
Something I so richly deserve
Or is this a baptism of fire
To make me fit to love and to serve.
For I used to stare out at the world
Like a revolutionary waiting in the wings
And much to the chagrin of my captors sing
Like a caged bird confident of being freed.
by Cactus
Look at this
Look at that
What are you
looking at?
You’re not even
paying attention
are you?
Just asking
It doesh’t really matter
anyways
Reckless mischief
smothered
in boredom
served in a life­
shaped bowl.
Eat your heart out.
Now I cower like a boulder
Beneath a waterfall
Wanting only some relief
From the relentless burden of it all.
Now with my destiny on the line
I draw near to death
The smoke clears, and I find myself in the ring.
Before I am ready, the bell sounds.
I am taking a beating yet
No one throws in the towel
And as I lie face down on the canvas
With blood in my mouth, I turn my head.
And I catch a glimpse of a beautiful girl
Who looks at me with believing eyes.
And with her affirmation
I rise to my feet.
To fight for myself
And why not everything else,
In this bout of madness.
So I sit in the corner of my room
On the 5th floor of the hospital
As the day comes to an end
And I think of my life
Which I am trying to redeem.
And I think of the girl
Who’s heart I am seeking to win.
And I think of the world
Which I profess to love.
Then I, in a way,
Shadow box into the night.
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