By Your Side

By your Side, a poem authored by Beulah Nimene, wins first in Seek Lib * Sleepless in Monrovia’s Writing Competition.

 

“To everyone I’ve lost.
——

Last night I had a dream

In that dream I died, I woke up as an eagle 

I flew across the seven seas to meet you

But you left

to mourn my death 

I was the color black, you wore me in your times of grief 

So I went back and became a tree

I grew in your backyard 

And watched you sleep

I became your blanket 

I held you close, I could touch your soul 

For I became air, I flowed through your nose 

Through your heart and your veins, I was the blood you bled

when you were pricked by thorns of life

I became your flesh 

I felt every pain you endured

I turned to tears, I rolled down your cheeks 

I kissed your lips

Entered your mouth, I became your words, you spoke me, spoke up the pain, the pain of losing me

So I became the droplets of rain, I fell on your face, I washed your tears away.

I turned to dust, touched your feet when you walked, 

I traveled with you around the world, the voice that said, I love you. 

I wanted to see your face, I visited your dreams, we danced on the moon.

We sang a song, a song about love, 

they pushed me away, they wouldn’t let me stay so I watched from the windows, I became your shadow, I learnt your ways, they were my ways too, I wanted to touch you but i was just a spirit without a body so I possessed you, I became you.

I laid in your bed, right by your side.

Last night I died, but even in death

I stayed by your side.”

Authored by by Beulah Nimene