little did we know

we come into this world
on stolen land
trees that once lived centuries
now quelled at half-life
we know not the way the earth
breathes with us
nor the way the sky collapses
into millions of colors
nor the way the sea nurtures
incomprehensible life
little did we know
that this land would hold
magic unseen
generational trauma
but also the deepest wells
of love
so we plow the fields
and till our unpacked thoughts
until we learn 
to breathe with her

About the author

Mikayla Elias is an audio engineer-turned-writer who calls Nashville, Tennessee home. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they are a lover of hockey, long walks, and antique furniture. Their debut poetry collection, Bending Toward the Light, is set to release mid-2022.

Photo by Linus Nylund on Unsplash.