A Poem: Standing On Barren Land

Standing On Barren Land

By: Christine McFarlane

I stand on a barren expanse of land

The buildings and houses are sparse

Country as far as the eyes can see

The skies are gray

The ground cold to the touch

The wind bites at my cheeks

This place is supposed to be home

Because this is where my mom

Lives and breaths

To me this land is foreign.

Everything unfamiliar

As I navigate my way around

Trying to feel at ease

But feeling the quickening

Of my breath

And my heart pounding

There’s sadness

I can’t quite define

I just know

That right now

I stand on a barren expanse of land

Unfamiliar to me

I will be back in the city

Soon

But for now

I’ll pray to the Creator

For my mom and I

That we’ll be fine

And finally free

Of the past that haunts us

And makes us afraid to be

2012