It’s 9 p.m. and I’m at
the dinner table, reaching;
for something other than
my mother’s words
of approval. She too is reaching;
for the possibility of mending
my “broken” edges.
It’s 10 p.m. and
the heaviness of her,
disappointment stops echoing
into my surroundings, and she’s
not reaching;
anymore.
My hands meet, and
my thoughts are silent
prayers, reaching;
for some God’s acceptance.
Help me
It’s 11 p.m. and
there is a
cold, that seems to penetrate
the walls of silence, I’ve
become confined in. My arms wrap
around my figure, like blankets reaching;
for warmth.
I feel small.
Powerless.
Lacking.
I find myself shaking, reaching;
for her;
Come back,
Please.
I’ll reach;
perfection.
I promise.
Christy Choueiri
Christy Choueiri is currently a graduate student of English Literature at the American University of Beirut. With interests in gender and sexuality, socio-linguistics, and creative writing, she really does not know where she fits in, but she hopes to someday figure out a way to mediate between her interests and do some good in the world.