Sun and Ships

Do you remember when we were free?

Was it a month ago?

2 years ago?

Time passes so quickly in this house.

I can barely remember the sunlight on my face.

Above.

Below.

All I saw were people-

People like me.

I was walking to my mothers house.

The man on my right- to the market.

The woman on my left- to pick up her child from school.

I hope she isn't worried about me.

Do our people miss us?

Do they cry?

Do they scream our name?

No one is coming.

If they were,

They'd be here by now.

Do you remember when we were free?

I was crammed into the crate with whom I now call brothers and sisters.

They wouldn't tell us where we were going.

Luckily we had food and water.

They said someone would meet us once we crossed.

But, crossed what?

I got sicker and sicker everyday.

The sea took a while to get used to.

I had only ever crossed a river before.

Do you remember when we were free?

When we emerged I thought I would be let go.

The sun answered to my prayers.

At the market,

We were the goods.

I saw my sister sold to a well-to-do couple

My brother to a poor farmer.

I wish I knew where they were.

The man who bought me bought two of us.

Now my closest companion,

The only witnesses to each other's suffering.

Do you remember when we were free?

No cuts,

No bruises,

No unwanted visitors.

No children,

No cleaning,

No paper-thin bunk,

Just the Sun.

Do you remember when we were free?

I remember.