THE BORDER

I crossed the line into no man’s land
My feet are aching, not because I have walked
But because I have arrived
My heart is heavy, not because I have left home
But because I have found a home
The air seems different here
Heavy with promises
Intoxicating with the smell of freedom
My lids are heavy, not through lack of sleep
But because now, I can see a future
My hands are heavy
Not because I have carried all I own with them
But because I have put down my gun
This was me, coming into the promise land

I now look back
I tighten the towel around my sleeping baby
I heave the load onto my head and as the weight of it pulls me down
I pick up my gun and try see through my clouding eyes
The air seems different here
Again the smell of danger and oppression, death and hunger assault my nostrils
As I cross into no man’s land
My feet hurt
Not because I have been walking
But because now, I will have to run.