Thursday, August 2, 2018

Blog Post - Ife Islam

The Tree Runner

I had wished a thousand times
that I could heal your mind. that I could change your life
But I
didn’t know that you. wanted to heal me too
there’s no room left to move

I knew a boy
that kept
everything he owned inside a backpack.
He’d run
run from the rising sun and from the smoke n guns
He ran

ran right into me
and tried to get me to follow him
Well I didn’t know
where he came from
or where
he was going.
But I knew that he was hurting himself and that he’d hurt me too

I had wished a thousand times
that I could heal your mind. that I could change your life
But I
didn’t know that you. wanted to heal me too
there’s no room left to move

I slowed him down
he sped me up
we got so close
and we broke up
I loved his eyes
and he loved mine
and I still want to save his life
but he won’t listen, he says I
will need to move and need to fight
and I say he needs to be still
and to allow himself to feel
and I hit him and he hit me
and I still don’t know who broke the mirror.

I still don’t know, who broke the mirror.

I loved him
I did
and I’m sure he loved me too
but he’s runner
I’ve got roots
and still I want to save his life

I think of him
I think of her backpack.
I think of the mirror.
I still think he’ll come back.
I hope he’s got his things together
I just hope that he’s alright

I had wished a thousand times
that I could heal your mind. that I could change your life
But I
didn’t know that you. wanted to heal me too
there’s no room left to move

5 comments:

  1. “But he’s a runner/I’ve got roots” - Wow! Powerful imagery. This poem really captures what it means to be in a tumultuous relationship - one where two people care for each other, but may not be right for each other. I really enjoyed it!

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  2. I really like the repetition in your poem that sets the tone for your message "didn't know that you wanted to heal me too". I also really like your choice of line breaks that emphasize certain phrases "he's a runner, I've got roots". Each stanza captures an unpredictable story that is rhythmically expressed. The title to your poem gives the verses in depth meaning. Wonderful writing!

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  3. I was drawn to the line, "I knew he was hurting himself and that he would hurt me too." This poem captures the angst you feel when you love someone who is not good for you. Did you use the imagery of the broken mirror to convey what happens when you no longer see the beauty of your relationship reflected in the eyes of the one you love?

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  4. It's so poignant that the narrator and the boy are complete opposites in some ways, but quite similar in other ways. He wants her to move while she wants him to be still, but there's also a symmetry to their actions. The way they love each other's eyes, for example. It helps me understand why they're so drawn to each other.

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  5. I have now read your poem three times. The poem gets stronger and more meaningful with each reading. Your work contains joy and love along with hurt and pain. Do opposites attract?
    Sometimes, maybe, for the better of each or sometimes it destroys both members. You show a great deal of wisdom. Please keep writing.

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