{"id":331,"date":"2019-08-02T21:47:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-02T21:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lineriderpress.com\/headlinepoetry\/?p=331"},"modified":"2019-08-31T01:37:35","modified_gmt":"2019-08-31T01:37:35","slug":"331","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lineriderpress.com\/headlinepoetry\/2019\/08\/02\/331\/","title":{"rendered":"Devastation | by Laura Lee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

image: Collection: “Sarajevo 20 Years After the Siege,” Alex Elena Photography<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEBRA: <\/strong><\/p>

Catherine, come up <\/p>

from the back of the yard <\/p>

it\u2019s no longer safe outdoors. <\/p>

Come up to my side <\/p>

we’ll hide ourselves strong <\/p>

behind the old oaken door. <\/p>


Brother is gone and mother <\/p>

is gone and father is <\/p>

we don’t know where. 
<\/p>

And while we\u2019re not well <\/p>

we don’t even need food; <\/p>

we’ve become skin, bones <\/p>

and aware. <\/p>


But if I’m with child, <\/p>

I’ll starve it to death <\/p>

or force my flight <\/p>

down the stairs. <\/p>


What’s the point of it now? <\/p>

Everyone’s gone, <\/p>

let’s wait for the end right here. 

CATHERINE: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Debra come down <\/em><\/p>

from the top of the stairs <\/em><\/p>

the green door doesn’t lock <\/em><\/p>

anymore. Yes, Momma is gone <\/em><\/p>

and brother is gone but <\/em><\/p>

Father might be found after all. <\/em><\/p>


And if you’re with child <\/em><\/p>

I will help you walk down <\/em><\/p>

I will help you all of the way. <\/em><\/p>

Together we’ll start a <\/em><\/p>

new family right, <\/em><\/p>

not hating a child of hate. <\/em><\/p>


Debra come down, <\/em><\/p>

we mustn’t stay here, <\/em><\/p>

no home is safe anymore. <\/em><\/p>


Let’s hit the road running, <\/em><\/p>

not sit and wait, dying. <\/em><\/p>

Let’s do something other than pray. <\/em><\/p>


For you are still here and <\/em><\/p>

I am still here– <\/em><\/p>

And Debra that <\/em><\/p>

Is something, I say. <\/em>
<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Laura Lee <\/strong>is a teacher, college instructor, published (poetry, fiction, and nonfiction) writer, adult literacy tutor; literacy in all its forms is her passion.
Laura’s i<\/em>nspiration: <\/strong>
“When I was teaching ELL, I taught with a woman who survived the Sarajevo Siege and was a refugee to the USA. Her stories haunted and still haunt me.” <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

#poetsoftherevolution<\/p>\n

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