She ties her laces,
and for the walk prepares
A deep breath, and she’s on her way
The moon silently stares,
A curved disk still in the sky.
Her feet sink into mud,
and a scream she swallows quickly.
On and on she trudges,
past grabbing thickets,
and phantom shadows
On and on she hurries,
body a shivering mess,
her heart demanding out.
Finally her feet touch grass,
and lights touch her face.
Behind her she looks,
the path behind trailed by moonlight,
the woods still and calm.
A deep breath she inhales,
knocking on the door as-
smell of baking dough hugs her warm.
©photo courtesy: Aisha Mohamed’s photos of me
Darkness and light 