Redemption
Everything has changed for them.
They can no longer eat
a mango, an orange, or a slice
of cantaloupe. They only have
their memories of taste and
smell. They were happy.
The sun was always very bright.
They can remember the warm
blood flowing through their
bodies. They are these monarch
butterflies in the reds, oranges
of the Pride of Barbados flowers
in Texas in October. They keep
their distance from the bees,
watch for bad spirits that we do
not know about. Their next
destination will be the marigolds
and the Mexican sunflowers
on their way into the setting
sun, the redemption, the second
chance, the new life they have.
They can remember eating
pumpkin pie and peaches in
their ice cream. They already
miss their families, the
children. Some will return
to watch over, protect them.
They will come back and you
will feel good inside. You won’t
know why you feel better.
Their souls are intense blue and
orange flame. They burn new
and light up this cold dark place
with their love, their smiles,
and their warmth. The demons
are afraid of them. We need
them to come back to us
from the dead, share their
goodness, but they are on their way home.
Benjamin Nash has Sun available at Finishing Line Press. He has had poems published in Louisiana Literature, 2River, Tar River Poetry, Denver Quarterly, and other publications.
Amethyst Review 