Today’s post is dedicated to the book I am currently reading, *Wild Dark Shore* by Charlotte McConaghy. Her writing always resonates with me in unique ways. Her previous books, ‘Once There Were Wolves’ and ‘Migrations’ also had the same impact on me. As their titles suggest, they explore the intricate connections between our planet, and humanity. If one falters, the others are at risk. The stories highlight human resilience, while always reminding us that we are at the mercy of Mother Nature. I truly love her books. So, here’s some prose poetry, because life is too short, and I might as well write it all down, even if it doesn’t rhyme.
The land blushed in wildflowers. Bumblebees flying distances to meet the butterflies out of their cocoon. Otter in the lake, Robin on my porch. I lost what was never mine to own. Ash fell like snow, covering the burns—a charred existence, mocking my labor. I lost what was never mine to own.
A house I called home. Windows barred for monkeys for they stole all that my grandma cooked. She yelled and laughed, feeding them bananas. I lost what was never mine to own. The tree under which I fell asleep daydreaming of all that I desired: the boy, the dress, the car, the shoes. The skies so blue, and river so calm. Down with trees but houses in abundance broke her might, unleashing the anger no one imagined. Drowned and hurt, I lost what was never mine to own.
Hopscotch, cricket, tag or hide & seek, games we played after school. In the parks, by the road, on the terrace, on the porch. I lost what was never mine to own. Earth shook like the textbooks described. Unaware, uncertain. Known but never believed. The cracks gulped down the parks and the terrace. Leaving empty gulfs and deepening the fears we heard about in school. Back to earth, I heard them say. I lost what was never mine to own.
Black Coffee and Grey Stories 
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