In March we asked for entries to a charity anthology where the theme was STOLEN. Kneel Downe's Stolen Indie Anthology will be published on 20th May but we wanted to share some of the entries here on the website too, whether or not they made it into the new book. Here's Loving Life by CZ Heyward...
I'd never seen the world the way he had
Never seen it at all
Yet he taught me what others were afraid to say
He told me one day
Stand straight
Tall
Mighty
Placed something on my arm
Asked me what I felt?
Tiny tentacles tenaciously traced and tickled my skin
It was a caterpillar
He told me
He is you
And you are a mountain, and there are many mountains.
Do you understand?
Yes, I said
Lean back your head
Open your mouth
Cup your hands in front of you
He slowly poured water into my mouth and told me
Don't swallow
Within my hands something was dropped
Frantic fluttering flesh floundered within
He said
It's a goldfish, what will you do?
Remember you are the mountain
Gently I bathed the minnow
My breath became his
The mountains feed the oceans
And the oceans feed us
Understand?
Yes, I said
Next he placed a rock in my hand
This I knew, but he asked
What is it?
I didn't understand
Is it
Gold
Silver
A diamond
His voice now cutting and impatient
I almost started to laugh
When I felt him grip my throat
Hardened heavy hands in harsh reproach
I was gasping
Heart pounding
Crying
Give me the rock was all he demanded
I dropped it
How could you ...
Why'd you do that?
I screamed
I'm the mountain!
I am the mountain!
You said I was the mountain,
tears washed words sputtering from my lips
I
Am
Man
Do you understand?
Bio: C. Z. Heyward is an emerging poet and playwright whose work has appeared in a number of journals including Serendipity Magazine, Poetry Quarterly, and The Sacred Cow. When he's not writing he enjoys live jazz in dark bars, and riding his vintage motorcycles.
Cover Image created by Trev Bartlett
Buy the anthology on Lulu and Amazon
Posted in:
anthology
,
Blog
