Natalie Collins

The indescribable feeling of running a race
One must experience it to know the joy

The butterflies in my stomach at the starting line
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America has its problems
Soldiers sacrificing lives for others
Apart from their families for so long
Living every day in a foreign land
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only three years old
when I saw her fall
scared and crying
standing on the couch
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The wedding day

A 37-year-old man
His 14-year-old son
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Preparing another fallen hero
For his journey home
Removing the blood-stained uniform
That he so proudly wore
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A sight I hope I never see again
a massive black funnel cloud
on a path of destruction
At first unable to distinguish its direction
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The melodious tunes on the piano
The brassy sound of the trombone
The emotional lyrics of thousands of songs
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Cat is fat
Is fat indeed
Fat indeed yes
Indeed yes stuck
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The peaceful blue water
The shiny pleasant waves
Rising up onto the golden sand
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I don’t understand…

why people do things to harm their own bodies
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Making amazing plays out on the court
Everyone knew he was good at his sport
Numerous awards displayed in his room
A very fine athlete one might assume
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The arms sway violently in the harsh wind
While the hands wave forcefully at me
As if telling me to get inside quickly
From the window, I watch the tree
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In the corner of the living room was an album of
unbearable photos
Our wedding day
Our honeymoon
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Once upon a morning chilly, while I ran the course so hilly,
Over many a steep and grassy pathway to the finish line
While I struggled, really panting, suddenly there came a chanting,
As of someone proudly granting, granting me the first place time.
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The wagon rolling down the aisle
Made everybody smile
Although he won’t remember a thing
He brought in both the rings
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My dad snoring in the chair
Clothes tumbling in the dryer
Air blowing from the heater
The phone ringing in the dining room
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Two minorities
Fighting for one nomination
One female
One black
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Longing eyes watch the door,
Waiting for a familiar face to appear.
Maybe today her son will come.
Perhaps the pastor will stop in to pray.
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“He will return, ” his family yearned,
But from that day they also learned

That freedom often costs a life,
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Is it time for me to be born already?
It doesn’t seem like it’s been nine months.

Is the doctor going to help me?
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