Trace

art by Angeline Phan, words by Ayat Younis

Ripples of Time

Peace, how beautiful she looks tonight, 

surrounded by whales and fish

Majestic colors they are, 

Combinations of cerulean, sapphire, and azure

Dancing and taunting,

Their scaly bodies brush past me,

Like poetry in motion,

With a grace unmatched by any other,

Each movement is a symphony of fluidity,

Creating an enthralling ballet beneath the surface,

A spectacle of nature's grandeur,

Do you remember?  she interrupts

“Remember what?” I respond. 

But no one is there to answer. 

Nothing below or above, 

Only Silence waiting, reaching his gelid hand out to me, 

The cool water brushes against my dress, 

lightly dying it the same careful indigo 

Just as I jump back 

she calls me in, 

I can hardly feel you, darling, come on. I don’t bite.

Her voice echoes through my skin, 

calling me to come closer. 

I take a step, perhaps half, and am stopped

Silence wraps his arms around me

His aura engulfs me,

Protecting me from the developing chaos above

But yet, I feel a soul

Perhaps multiple,

Just barely the taste of familiar voices 

I fight just enough to see painted beings and flying colors, 

things I almost remember. 

One by one, they slip away

Running from me into the fog, 

Into Peace’s arms

Born in a navy blue world, mourning what I once remembered   

Looking down, Peace returns, smiling, 

A step further, and I recall, 

Didi’s cooking, Mama’s love, Baba’s tears

Peace’s placid voice glowing dimly as an ember 

A gentle candle, glowing in the obscurity around me

Burning out, as I step further

Downward, 

hand in hand with Memory, Silence drowns behind us

The world goes mute, whales encircle us

A gentle congregation beneath the moon's gentle fuss.

just as I dip my feet in.