Christina A. Sharik

SMALL BEINGS

Awarded: December 26, 2004I was writing
late one night
and quietly, I cried

I looked down at the paper
and was slightly horrified

my tears had pooled
as ponds of blood

where little soldiers struggled
as if mired in ruddy mud

presently, they marched away
and left me mystified

and so I’ve often wondered
who they were
and if they died.

Little creatures, flound’ring
in the puddles of my tears

Small beings struggling
to live with their own fears

I had cried a little world
prototypes of life

And, even in that mini-sea
they labored in their strife…

Small beings
soldiers, all
If I stop crying
will you fall?

How will you live?
Where will you go?
Do I know you?
I’m hard to know.

I created your world
with heartache and tears
ah, little soldiers
you’ll be fighting for years.