The Door of No Return

by Kwame Alexander

Though he is nearly eighty now and seldom speaks, when he does, I hang on to all his words, the lulls in between, and I remember the stories like a pigeon remembers its way home.

Dreams are today’s answers for tomorrow’s questions.

Nimdee chuckled a little, in a wise sort of way, then said to the boy and his mother and his father, What you do not suffer for, you can never truly value.

The sun shines on those who stand up for themselves, before it shines on those who kneel to cowardice.

They say that those who loved you return to you in dreams. Each nightfall I will look for you climb the highest mountains search every shadow on Earth.

AND WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO when my dreams drown? When the door to the last sliver of hope is sealed?