If the Creek Don't Rise

by Leah Weiss

I can’t remember if I ever had a choice but to put one foot in front of the other and walk the line on a rocky road to nowhere.

Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. From the start there’s been a film of dingy on my days. I’ve always done woman’s work; man’s work, too. Woke up with work to do and went to bed before it got done. I see some folks walk easy and carry peace on their shoulders, but I been chained to a iron life.

You can starve in a world when you’re hungry and won’t settle for crumbs.”

Old memories more than twenty-five years back get more idle time today than they have a right to. Even when your hair turns gray, they don’t stay away on this kinda low-cloud day.

Even being four, I wondered who defended us girls. I was too shy back then to ask. Now I know—it’s nobody.

He prays with his eyes closed and asks for answers. All he’s gotta do is look and use the brain God give him.

“It don’t seem right that beat-down folks gotta get their hearts bruised, too.

The silence round me feels different from other days. It’s peaceful and heavy at first, like a crazy quilt made of all the hurts