Shattered, or: Built anew

A ‘Garland’ Shadorma

I've returned
from imposed exile
that my child
may belong
that she never need reclaim
a lost legacy

even as
freedom's native son
belonging
eludes me
pulled between societies
nearly stretched to shreds

homeland-born
never asked to be
raised away
far, so far,
from grandparents, aunts, cousins
from my truest self

the worst- was
not realizing
that I was
a stranger
navigating my life through
a foreign culture

as a child
with home so distant
my mind was
wholly filled
with romantic ideas
inherited hopes

adulthood
realizing dreams
new viewpoints
painful blows
having what I thought I knew
shattered; built anew

I've returned
freedom's native son
raised abroad
a stranger
with romantic ideas
shattered; built anew

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‘Garland’ Shadorma?

The ‘Garland’ Shadorma was created by Sylvia Cognac, modeled after the ‘Garland’ Cinquain. Essentially, it a Shadorma series of seven stanzas, with the seventh and final stanza being composed of lines from all six previous stanzas.

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Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!