At the departure gate,
the boys hugged you goodbye,
their eyes dry,
the way innocence clings to possibility.
You told me you felt broken,
needed to find yourself,
stop confusing
white powder with devotion,
alcohol with wanting.
Seasons have passed,
fallen leaves,
then snow,
your words preserved in the soil.
Melissa Williams has a Master of Arts in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Gloucestershire and recently completed a mentorship under author David Bergen at the Humber School for Writers. Her fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in Voices, 42 Stories and Academy of Heart and Mind. Prior to becoming disabled, her second home was at Torstar’s community newspaper division where she led an advertising sales team and built life-long friendships. She lives near the beach, in Toronto, with her two sons and their Siamese cat.
Wow, so powerful; great story
Brilliant. Says so much in so few words.
a very moving poem and as always, Melissa’s writing is so poignant! Poignant comes from the french…poignarder, which means to stab (in the heart).
Wow. So much said in so few words. Absolutely outstanding.
Melissa ..so beautiful.. thank you❤️
Melissa, so raw and honest, such a powerful and significant poem.
Beautifully written, Melissa. You say so much with such few words. I’m so looking forward to reading more of your writing!
Wow Melissa, beautiful, painful and so powerful.
A powerful message built on profound experiences.
Beautifully written Melissa. Thoughtful and provoking.
So much conveyed, with passion and experience. As usual, visceral and lyrical.