Whooo are youuu? ~ Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland

Fifth grade. Journalism segment of English class. Answer these five questions and you’ve got a story, the teacher said: who, what, when, where, why.

Who… I am a shadow dancing in the dark. I am a meadow, waiting for a lark.

What… does it matter if a man gains the world, but does not have love?

When… do large frightening things grow small enough to fight?

Where… in the world is it safe? Is it light there? Do the kids get to eat every day? I have more questions than answers. Does this mean I don’t have a story?

Why…I read a lot of books. In the Bible, God doesn’t seem to care much for his children. Makes sense, because my parents don’t either. I’m not sure why we can’t just go live with families that really seem to like children.

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That assignment says everything about who I was, and how I became. I raise my children under an umbrella of mental illness. I write poems, knowing that I’m not talented enough to count them as a “career choice.” The only thing bigger than my fear is love for my people. I don’t consider myself particularly brave. I just don’t feel like dying today.