CHILD OF A STORM by Kelly Greenwood

I am in a place that requires a solo scavenger hunt

I need to work deep down below the surface

Of the darkest of waters

And find myself, excavate my soul

From the ruins of the last ship-sink

My revenge is to find solitude

Somewhere I can lick the salt from my wounds

And the water in my eyes won't turn to dust

The walls a thin sheet of ice

A membrane of memories

Survives the sub tropic sound waves

Wash ashore, head for home

Before the storm breaks

I am a professional

Capsize in the rain

While thunder barrels down the shore

This is how you earn your stripes

Gold, leaden-blue gathers strength

Against resistance

Tipping over pipe bombs

Somewhere in the distance

My hand like a machine gun

Words licking my brain like a tongue

Hot wet kiss then let’s go

Long enough for it to linger

In the silent halls like lingo

Count the spare inches

On one finger

Itchy on the trigger

Pull you near

Chase you for sport

You’ll run for fear

Undercover like the cops

I dread the impending prosecution,

But I've hurt everyone

That’s ever tried to get close

Towed the line, took a chance

My thumb is out

Waiting to catch that speeding train

You’re still waiting to dance

The lack of tolerance makes you numb

To the things about me that

You wouldn't understand

Things you couldn't understand

Things you shouldn't understand...

Been tearing down walls

And building a moat

For eight and a half centuries,

What makes you think I'm gonna stop now?

What makes the heat inside warm

When the cold dark rain

Catches you off guard

The swelling vacant mist

Offered in gun powder

Saturate the screen

Teach me to run

While my lips bleed

Talking to me like I'm an infant of god

A child of storm

The war is won,

But the battle has just begun.

-Kelly Greenwood