The Story of my Life
Maryam Alatmane
(Birmingham)
I reach out to hug you, embrace you, imprison you
To grasp you in my arms
I dance in the harsh autumn wind
Helpless, as my leaves walk away
An army of solitary figures
Standing to attention
Waiting, always waiting
My arms are laden with glistening jewels
A white blanket covers the ground
My bare body is enveloped in a blizzard of whiteness
When the birds return
My beauty blossoms
As my arms are filled with flowers
The breeze whistles
Through the trees
Making them whisper
A chatter of the summer joys to come
And I watch
Silently
As the first rays of light
Tiptoe across the ground