Stumble, collapse, rebound by Ruiting Zhao

The sun retreats below the horizon,

Shadows are lengthened by the wind.

In a panic, she begins to run,

Her brisk pace quickens into a sprint.

Her footsteps thud out           a rhythm         with her heartbeat

But the drumrolls        pounding in those ears

Are drowned out by the deafening rasp of leaves

And drops 

        of perspiration 

                 trickle,

                 then blend with bitter tears.

The ground trembles              and shifts.       

Her legs stumble in their leaden state

Gusts of wind shove   and lift,

Mottled shadows blur together         and separate.

Is all hope gone?

      Have clouds snuffed out the stars?

There is no sign of the sun

      And even shadows            are engulfed in the dark.

Jagged rocks slice her wind burnt cheeks

      The ground sips away defeated tears.

She knows not what to seek

      When her world             is overpowered by fear…

Yet the wind is dying down— 

Howls become tender murmurs

Obsidian shadows melt into silver mist

Filling her bloodshot eyes with wonder

Her silhouette is tinted pinkish gold

Against the fiery eastern sky

As warmth floods her senses

She muses into the newborn light:

“Despite stumbles and collapses 

During the rough night,

I can always rebound

In the next day’s sunrise.”