The Magpies and The Wind

Poetry by Emilio Fernandez

The gavel knocks on the front door  
Guilty rings the rap of wood on wood 
My dreams drop dead to the tiled floor  
Satan smiles, obviously he would  
Guilty rings the rap of wood on wood  
Desperate to hold my mother near  
Satan smiles - of course the bastard would  
As I sit drenched in my mother’s tears  
Impossible to hold my mother near  
Razor wire fences keep her at bay  
There is no life in my mother’s tears  
Only fake smiles and empty words to say  
Swamps and concrete keep my mother away  
Daily wondering how long she will last  
There are no smiles or words today  
I decide not to put on my mask  
Who knows how long she will last?  
I ask the magpies and the wind  
They don’t mind me without my mask  
They don’t judge me again and again  
I ask the magpies and the wind  
Will I one day hold my mother free?  
They stare and squawk what’s on their mind  
Yes, but we have no idea when that will be  
Will I one day hold my mother free?  
My dreams rise up off the floor  
Yes, but will I still be me?  
When the guard unlocks the heavy door