Thread: Have you seen...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you seen her?

She heard the muddled yelling.
The walls in her place, thin as paper.
She didn't want her dream to end.

Her eyes, still heavy.
Somehow, the voices are drowned out by the pounding of her heart.
And inside herself, she felt the sensation of spinning. And falling.

Her eyes open.
The sleep in her eyes makes her vision double.
The clock; glaring in digital crimson, read 3:45 am.

All at once. Like a raging current, she realizes….
“Momma’s boyfriend stayed the night.
The School-Bus comes in a little over two hours.”

Have you seen her?

She chokes her way through thick, stale smoke.
To the bathroom. Where there still lingered the stench of vomit.
She tries to ignore her surroundings. Staring in the mirror. Brushing her teeth.

Picking up whatever clothing smelled the least foul. She dressed herself.
Standing in the hall. Beneath the doorway. She watched them fight. …
…. She felt her stomach ache.

The shouting overpowered her thoughts. Her voice seemed only to whisper.
They were so consumed. She walked right pass them, unnoticed.
And she just wanted breakfast. White rice from Chinese take-out, 2 days old.

Have you seen her?

Have you ever seen someone so thankful for something so pitiful?
Gratitude cut short by the scream of the ashtray, whizzing past her.
Anyplace was better than here.

She seen the tipped over bottles on the way to the table.
Her books sat, drenched in beer.
She packed her book-bag, leaving room for the rice.

The only thing as of yet, able to stop their fighting… were the sirens.
The rising sun, shining through the empty front doorway.
She’d been gone for an hour. An early trip to the bus stop… a quick escape.

Momma goes out to see what the fuss is about.
Just blood, and a book-bag.
Someone noticed her. They seen she was alone. But have you?

Have you seen her?



*Note: Sometimes, in my "junk mail", I get these little notices that say "have you seen..." Then it gives the picture\and or description of a missing person. Well, I got another one today... it inspired this poem.