Far from the resting place of my ancestors,
my dreams fall to the void,
my blood runs thicker than water,
trying to drown out all the noise.
Far away from my people,
yet so close to the pain,
surrounded by the shroud of fences,
I plead and pray for the rain.
Drunk on the distance between us,
I pray to the four directions,
let there be mercy and hope,
in this Department of Corrections.
I let the sage burn each and every week,
inhaling the spirit of my home,
my actions go untested,
and I fear I walk alone.