Rooter Prose & Poetry
The Missing Side Collection: Abduction Narratives | Artwork | Prose & Poetry | Essays | Music
Sides
SIDES by Take Root Member Sheri “Take my side!” Say the parents to the judge The lines have been drawn And neither one will budge “You took his side!” Screams the mother in sheer rage “You let him have my children Now I’ll take them far away!” “Take my side!” Says the father to all who will hear “She stole my children! She took everything I hold dear!” “You took his side!” The mother now repeats “I had to protect them He lies, he beats, he cheats!” “Take my...
A Year of Days
A Year of Days by Take Root member Kelly J Niles The Loneliness of the warm spring wind reminds me you are gone a gray shadow on a distant wall marks the time that has passed the wind has become my constant companion fashioning lullabies that whisper your name singing softly of the love we knew I think of you on still lingering winter nights a month of nights a year of days how long must I wait for your return to the place we once knew where life...
Tight Rope
Tight Rope by Take Root Member Dana Self help books and Poetry abound A Palace…. a place deep inside taking a wonderous look around Blonde hair and eyes so truthfully green looking so ultimately wide eyed deciphering all that she’s seen This woman… now opening a foreign box remembering that little girl and al lthat she’s seen o though she sometimes thinks that she shouldn’t Time tells her it must be done and these new friends will help her through because they together have found the sun They who...
4 In My Family
There’s 4 in my family by Take Root Member Charlene There’s 4 in my family after I was born -1 messy divorce +1 abducting parent -1 custodial parent left behind -1 brother left behind =2 in the family “It’s just you and me kid, he said.” +1 name change -1 name change back +10 years on the run +6 different states that we lived in +14 different schools -10 years without Christmas or birthdays -1 missed childhood -1 attempted runaway -2 jobs in high school =18 the age I...
My Life
This Is Not My Life, Is It? Lonely Shadows danced on my wall, In the distance I hear my mom’s call. “Try not to think of him, he’s not coming”. “Don’t be dramatic, it’s not worth running”. “He’s chosen a new life, and you’re not a part of it, he’s moved on and you must accept it.” The shadows made sounds in the lonely apartment, The mailman’s steps and his keys were a comfort, I knew that it was him and not someone coming to harm, Still I only...
Heartwood
Heartwood an image appears an opaque silhouette haunts your mind where does it belong? what material does it want to be made of? flames splatter around the contours. so you weld. but the impression in your heart fades away, metal and fire was not the right element. an etching? half-done you cast it aside, it was not meant to be. you let the image rest and do other things in the meantime. you paint a wall. you dismember a stoop and bring it back to life again the ghost...
Back
I’ve Come Back To You I love you Dad How scary it was that my memory had faded, Or perhaps I left it behind. I did remember a few happy times, But the bad had left my mind. Regardless of what happened, The space was still alive. I knew that nothing would replace him, So I created my own happy life. I would imagine the feel of his loving embrace, The meals he’d make I could almost taste. She told me once that he had done something wrong, But...