Boundaries Poem by Elnathan John

You just whipped me with the ropes
That lined the boundaries
That our fathers chose
You whipped me hard
And asked if it hurt
But I know and I think you do
That you would love to let me sit
And whisper stories of things that never were
And mock the boundaries of our fathers
And cross them
But the air does not blow
What direction we wish
And we cannot hold the rain in a cup

I know I cannot sit or let you sit
I’ve lived long enough to know
That the rain and the wind
have minds of their own
but if you will let me
we can squat and play,
dream of crossing boundaries,
hope our brothers don’t see us
and grudgingly separate at dusk…
if we cannot find meat
mushrooms can serve
if we cannot feel the wind
we will blow air from our mouths
if the rain disappoints
we will collect dew at dawn
but only if you will let me
and not whip me
with the ropes our fathers chose.