An Escape Poem by Deva De Silva

Angry blood gushing in my veins
Spent emotions swirling in my brain
In a split of a second my mind wailed
That it wanted out, again

Green shirt with golden syrup stains
Fluttering on my belly in defense
Its sweet scent clogging my senses
Wailing for sympathy. Never again!

Choking my breath wind blew in
Zipper resisted to glide in
Thousand needles prickled me
At strangest of places
My knees and elbows
My nostrils and jaws

As eager lovers upbeat
Clinging onto one another
With a buzz it sank in
Two rows of zipper teeth
Taking its cue,
My body uncurled
Defying the bitter wind

Naked feet burrowed in yellow Reeboks
Refusing such cruelty yelled
"Where are the socks? "
They urged in shock
'Go Back! Get them! '
Yet, my feet won't dare
Step back into where
It stepped out from

Turning a deaf ear
To howled words wavering in fear
Turning a blind eye
To faces smeared with tears
Shrugging off,
Tiny pleading hands
Turned robust - sheer
In a haste, I escaped the harshness
That represented my home