Without light.

Heavenly light
Pouring through the sparkling lens
Of my window.

Dancing rainbows
Of light
Against my brow.

I always thought I was too
Undeserving of heaven,
But I realize I am too strong.

For hell,
Because I could never be the nightmare
Or monsters who broke me;

I have no remorse for being who I am—
So many people have tried to drown
Or water me down.

I am the mountains, flames, and tempest
Of heaven;
I refuse to stay on my knees.

When I was born to walk, swim, and fly—
I give both flowers and thorns
Because i am both light and darkness.

Yet I choose the spark of light every time
Because without light darkness
Wouldn’t be so beautiful.

Linda M. Crate

Linda M. Crate is a Pennsylvanian native born in Pittsburgh yet raised in the rural town of Conneautville. She is a two-time push cart nominee. Her poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has six published chapbooks. She is also the author of the novel Phoenix Tears (Czykmate Books, June 2018).

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