THE JOURNEY BACK

I could no loner distinguish between the color of my skin

and the captivating indulgent, heavy soil

The insides of my fingernails dark purple, bruised and full of dirt

as I clawed my way to the main stage of a place that did not belong to me,

until my fingertips were no longer able to support me

I fell on my back, hard, like a heavy piece of wood

I shook the ground

Tulips of pink, purple, and white quivered underneath my body,

and before I could take my first breath, I recognized the sound of feet

moving rhythmically across the grass, before my eyelids could open, covered in dirt and rusty green

I wiped my eyes free, roughly

There were dancers all round me

I couldn’t understand what sense it made, my being there, and before being scolded, or worse, for intruding,

I tried to catch gravity with my stance

Before I could run I felt a heavy hand grip my shoulder with intention and purpose

live tulips twisted around my ankles, pulling me back into the theatrical land of dancers of all shapes, colors, and sizes

I had not known

In the melodic sounds of their movement,

in the seize of the tulips,

I knew that I had to stay