Tuesday Poem: "We, Made of Bone" by Mahtem Shiferraw

These days, I refuse to let you see me
the way I see myself.

I wake up in the morning not knowing
whether I will make it through the day;

reminding myself of the small, small things
I’ve forgotten to marvel in;

these trees, blood-free and bone-dry
have come to rescue me more than once,

but my saving often requires hiding
yet they stand so tall, so slim and gluttonous

refusing to contain me; even baobab trees
will split open at my command, and

carve out fleshless wombs to welcome me.
I must fall out of love of the world

without me in it, but my loves have
long gone, and left me in a foreign land

where once I was made of bone,

now water, now nothing.

by  Mahtem Shiferraw

(Photo Credit: Mahtem Shiferraw)

For more information on the poet, Mahtem Shiferraw, see:

https://poets.org/poet/mahtem-shiferraw