Give Us Wings

By Carla M. Cherry

Oh, those days we thought the sun
smiled once we opened our eyes,
that we could
wear dusk like a garment.

Oh, the joy-
disrupting platinum silence
with golden screams,
heads whirled in our direction,
all eyes on us.

We know Mamas and Daddies,
Grandmas and Grandpas,
Aunties and Uncles,
were teaching us self-control,
sparing their eardrums
from the mallets of our high-pitched squeals
when they said,

Use your inside voice.

Wish someone taught them,
how often they would need to teach us,

Trust your inner voice.

Believe blue lotus hopes and dreams.
Affirm, need for stillness,
barefoot moments
savoring petrichor.

Though they live 100 years,
do not strip olive trees bare
of all their branches.

Do not let those we love
stumble drunk from our cups of grace
while we thirst.

How much better would we be
at discerning thunderheads.
Shielding the heart from
barren souls
seeking oasis in luscious thighs.