Los Abandonados
(The Abandoned)
by Arya F. Jenkins / June 24th, 2018
My mother is gone
My father too
I cannot find my sister and brother
They are hungry and do not sleep
I know because I hear them crying
Although I do not know where they are
Their sobs have the rhythm of waves
Of the sea we left behind with our childhood
In truth all I hear now
Are shutting doors
Clanging metal fences and
The sound of men’s laughter
At night I ask the darkness–
Why have you taken everyone I love?
When will this journey end that I make even in my sleep?
When will day come and hope and kindness?
I speak to the stars
Although they do not know me
Or hear me
I have a name I tell them
My sister and brother have names
Will you write them down somewhere
So I will remember
Because I am afraid
Those who have taken everything
Will take my memory too
The night so full of absence
Brings no hope or comfort
All I have
Is the touch of remembrance
And the stars weaving my story.
Arya F. Jenkins is a Colombian-American poet, writer and peace and social justice activist whose poems have appeared in numerous journals and zines such as Agave Magazine, Blue Heron Review, Cider Press Review, Dying Dahlia Review, Dissident Voice, The Ekphrastic Review and more. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She has also published poetry reviews in Cleaver Magazine, Cider Press Review, Rhino Poetry, The Poetry Cafe and Vol. 1 Brooklyn. Poetry is forthcoming in Luna Luna Magazine. She is the author of three poetry chapbooks and a short story collection, Blue Songs in an Open Key (Fomite Press, 2018). Her novel, Punk Disco Bohemian, and a collection of short stories, Angel in Paris & Other Stories, are due for release through NineStar Press in 2021.
Read other articles by Arya F., or
visit Arya F.'s website.
This article was posted on Sunday, June 24th, 2018 at 8:03am and is filed under Poetry.
