Gaia scoops water from our cursed lands
Crops turn to ashes, our home turns to dust
Our cow lies dying, her face scored with sand
Small Goji’s abed, his fevered face flushed
Vultures in dead orange tree, our hopes crushed
We pack our possessions with trembling hands
Coin enough left, train fare to the Sea Lands
Word is that Gaia smiles there, food for all
Milo wraps small Goji onto his back
Trudge to the station, dream of waterfalls
Amaya is the host of dVerse today. Amaya says:
Tonight, as we congregate here at the pub from all virtual corners of the world, let us consider movement among the population as a whole, or even just among ourselves by asking, Where am I going and where have I been? What is the trajectory of my life? We can also explore motion in an abstract way by using tempo in our poetry.
I’m also linking this to the dizain prompt for the month at dVerse.
Tao Talk 
Very evocative, Li.
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Thank you, Punam. I was trying to generate a vision that shows why individuals leave their homes and travel. It isn’t because they want to.
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And you did it successfully. Most times circumstances force one to leave home.
You are welcome. 🙂
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Very powerful.
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Is Goji a dog?
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Goji is their son.
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Interesting take on the prompt, Lisa…sometimes moves are for tragic reasons.
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Lynn.
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Without movement we find petrification and rot, yet your point is well taken about the impetus to move; nicely wrapped up in perfect dizain.
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Your thoughtful feedback is appreciated, Glenn. Thank you.
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Sad to be driven brutally from one’s home. Hope the promise of the coast was kept.
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With the extreme climate changes going on, there are going to be a lot more travelers out there, looking for a habitable place…
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I like how the need for water turns into a dream of waterfalls at the end.
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Thank you, Frank. I hope they find the waterfalls.
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I like the contrast and shift to hope, land with food and waterfalls. The mythical play gives this meaning to our journey.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Grace.
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I found this gently-written piece very moving. And of course the form is followed perfectly. (Well, if one reads ‘cursed’ with the two-syllable pronunciation … as many do.)
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Rosemary I appreciate your feedback and am glad you connected with the story of these individuals. I wondered what you would think about cursed vs curs-ed 🙂
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I think the feel of it – that somewhat Biblical usage – fits what you are saying.
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And to hear some people state devilish-like, when a child dies on an arduous migration: “Well, it’s the parents’ fault. Why take a child on a trip like that?” I fear it is not a viable choice for the vast majority of families fleeing their homeland. Thanks for being a voice of compassion, Jade.
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You are welcome. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Yes, devilish-like is a good way of putting the callous insensitivity.
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This really touched me Lisa. I think of all those poor migrants trying to come into the US 😢Of course many are affected in this way all over the world. Beautifully written
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Thank you, Christine. It was tough writing it.
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I’m sitting here struggling over tonight’s one! I’m not sure I can do it 😟
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this is pretty much perfect, tells a moving (no pun intended) story in 10 lines…well done!
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Thank you very much, Jim. It was tough writing such a sad poem.
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