Ramparts 

Amber Robinson 

I began with one small moment. 

The moment was made of sadness 

and the first wall i made was of soft things that gave me comfort

like a womb. 

More moments came, and I wasted no time in building more walls

for when they would come again. 

I was diligent and made them from  

solitude, trees, sunsets,

bright skies, sweet grasses and splintered sun rays 

I could lean against the early walls and they never faltered, they kept me safe. 

As my life roughened, I used harsher materials to make the walls. 

I built the walls as a reminder as well as a protection. 

I manufactured them out of coarse men, illicit medicine and alcohol. 

I made walls out of withered promises, lonely starscapes, and black crashing seas 

I danced and walls were made with each footstep.

I sang and walls were made with each note. 

I made them with blood, bruises and the tatters of my self-worth 

I made walls from war.

I made walls with weapons and the courage of men who die for their country 

I made walls that looked like music...but felt like screams. 

I gave my walls to others and encouraged them to stand 'round

My masonry has been impeccable, my geometry divine.

The child's temple of sky and warm earth 

Now numbers many a parapet, stony and brazen 

But behind all the ramparts, my inner progeny sighs

I sigh like an ohm reverberation.

Like a swelling chasm, a slowly crashing wave.

Like a comet, a dilating pupil 

I sigh slowly and with knowing

For the time has come