Submissions by Remy_L (Remington Lancaster)

her hand looked like stretched canvas losing elasticity
lily-white paper-thin skin lying over bone and drying veins
this vibrant life has no current thoughts and lost electricity
my warm hand attempts to give her spark back as she wanes
she looked in my eyes and for a moment I saw her
my white southern grandmother called me “el blanquito”
loved me and my spanish side english many preferred
her smile soured and she backslid her hand very slow
her sweet hazel eyes which I also carry turned black
she spat to my feet and slapped me then told me to go...

half white half spanish
many parts of me vanish
depending who sees
I’m your friend and family
do not turn your back on me

a journey has commenced
something that can be sensed
as lining breaks she aches  
she wears my shirt to pacify pain  
my scent gives her solace  
  
I bestow myself to her  
placing pillows for her comfort  
she lies her head gently  
as the drums invade to serenade  
her temporary visitor  
   
tracing the outlines of her face  
in attempt to place her in stillness  
she rises and kisses my lips  
while I persist to soothe her pain  
I watch it drain her essence  
slowly I bleed too   ...

the mountain peak that oversees the valley calls me
challenging me to show up and with my own eyes see
so I climb that spire and stare off in wonder
as I bellow the ground around me sunders
when the Earth below splits I fall to the fire
landing in front of her body burning in the pyre