Maverick Poet Award Finalist: “A Rock at the Crossroads” by Arami Walker

Arami Walker is a musician, author, and activist focused on empowering women and people of color.

A Rock at the Crossroads

by Arami Walker

I looked out 

the bus window-

and saw a boy 

searching for a rock.

His head was wrapped

and all I could see

was his eyes-

his Intention

Was to find a rock

and transform it

into a weapon.

He must have been 

eight years old-

he was not sick or dying 

but he was preparing to 

fight for his country.

He was preparing to-

Escape the confines 

of Green lines

the color of blood

and Palestinian poetry.

Leaving the University,

I asked a woman 

whose name meant, 

“president”

how they cope-

with the distractions, of the 

War and 

the raids-

and she said,

she wrote-

words and poetry 

and together 

they recited.

And his shoes size,

was the same 

as the jewish boy 

who escaped

and promised himself

that if he survived 

He would not lose another life,

To genocide.

because six million people

was too much 

family to lose.

and so,

we are still at the crossroads

of self preservation

and annihilation.

What he really wanted to do,

was find a rock

for his mom or sister

and take it home

and eat rice wrapped in grape leaves

and peppers with cheese,

but he is

busy,

too busy

finding a rock 

At the crossroads.