atlas

we swathe babies tightly to our backs

to seek comfort in gentle fingertips

feather light touches against scarred brown skin

tiny hopeful knuckles squeezed in prayers we can’t say

the cloth is tucked underneath the breast

a mother’s patterned shield

we send signals to the sun of colored heartbeats

embraces of unconditional love

as we sway them into slumber

we drift between their realities and ours

where endless hopes abound

away from the weight of our identities

heavier than celestial heavens

truths burn raw like acid when we regurgitate them

we bury under pursed lips and kissed teeth instead

to keep peace we fold strength into origami

cling to a world trying to shake us off

we swallow wordless riots

caress silhouette promises of better days

to shield youth from the harshest burns of outside

we cast our own violent rays

wield what few poisons we can control

create fear in our naked desperation

for your protection

for our sanity