Quicksand Poem by Lalithashree Ganesh

The storm came
Silently. Tiptoeing.

We were singing in the rain

The storm grew stronger
Silently. Brewing.

We were humming in the wind

The storm grew wilder
More silently.

We were whispering in the sun

The storm grew darker
Ever more silently.

We shut our mouths.

We
almost
shut
...
our
breath.

The storm laughed roaringly
Devouring, thundering. Conscienceless. Heartless. Reckless.

Striking us down with thunderbolts
Pinning us to the ground.

Tearing our lungs. Apart.
Tearing us. Apart.
Shutting us up.

Shaking us up like a fizzy bottle.
Over and all over again.

Our bread. All rationed.
Our tears. All around.
Flooding us with fear.

Injecting us with uncertainty.

Parallel lines emerged. Merging.

A collective kindness
Birthed...
Fighting against the storm

Waving goodbye. Asking it to leave. For good.

Yet. It isn't enough.
Here we are.
Now.
Sinking...

Quicksand.

Quicksand everywhere.

Closing in. Silently.

She is sinking
And we won't let her. No.

NO.

NO.

Quicksand.

We're pulling each other out...