Along the Embankment of my Youth
Breaking generational cycles.
Along the cracked embankment in the safety of my youth,
beneath a tree that grew with me and roots that drank the tide.
Carved in its bark were initials, scratched by my mother-
Declared a daughter, a young disciple, loyal to her, grateful for life.
Ever-changing adolescence lay beneath my feet like mossy beds and
flora well-fed with the rain and dews of spring twisting and turning.
Growing like my river tree, my mother watched until I was ready and
heaved her burdens on my back until I sank
into the mud. She saw my cry and lay back to die, unable to
justify exactly why, perhaps hoping for a partner in her miseries.
Killed by hopelessness, I could speculate.
Lost in darkness, I sat and waited, watching
moons pass over, all at once until her body reduced to bone.
Never did I think I’d carry my mother’s world of pain
on my back until I saw my childhood tree took my given name.
Portrayed as blank, no longer tied to my
Queen. My mother. My martyr.
Rains of change began to loosen me,
slowly the tide came and chewed away
the mud around my knees. I twisted and turned to break the bind,
until I saw my feet appear, intact like my soul and mind.
Veins throbbing above my eye as I replaced her burden with a knife and
wandered back up to my tree to carve an
"X." Nothing and everything. Whoever I wanted to be.
Yarrow welcomed my tired soul as I lay back to reach the
Zenith.
About the Creator
Kaitlin Oster
Professional writer.
Owner - Shadow Work Consulting, LLC
David Lynch MFA Program for Screenwriting with MIU, graduation 2023
Writing collaboration or work, speaking engagements, interviews - [email protected]
Comments (9)
Greatness in this piece
Splendid work! Keep the momentum—congrats!
Well done, a beautiful tribute to one who gives so much. Congratulations
Such a good evocation of this journey.
This is really love and time tested, ode to a mother.
Wow, this is by far my favorite that I've read for this challenge! Amazing job! New subscriber!
Amazing! Such an eloquent way to talk about breaking the trend that is generational trauma.
Wonderful job. Congrats on the TS
Strong visuals and so poignant! Great poem!