That Other Life
by Odin Roark

Click

Even with flip-flops
The ground’s touch
Goes unmistaken

You’re only a child
But you have traveled this road often
You’ve picked flowering weeds
For your mother
Watched them whither
In waterless bottles

Beneath your mud roof
You’ve held closed your eyes
Wishing for better times
Like now

You’ve squatted your body
Ever so gently
To sleep
Like now
Awaiting the morning

You’ve stared all night
At a starless sky
And another life
Like now

You’ve not wanted to uncurl
The comfort of remaining tight together
Just you
And your dreams
Seems so…

But this is different
You open your eyes

There’s no need to wait
The sun has risen
The wind is drifting sand
Atop your flip-flopped foot
That never moved
Remaining still
So very still
While you wondered what
The second click never heard
Sounds like

But now

You try to smile
You know it must be safer over there
That other life
Away from roadside clicks
Improvised hatred
You don’t yet understand

Your eyes rise from your foot
Last thoughts are of your brother always grinning
Just before he moves his crudely carved queen
His checkmate grin

You close your eyes
You wish you could
Take back your last move