Manuela Cardiga - Guilty Pleasures and Culinary Treasures

THE CAMEL FINALLY YELLED

the blood
the blood
it thumps through
my veins
flower of anger
erupts in my brain

could it be
i heard you say
what you said?

surely madness
surely sadness
unhinged me:
years of this
quiet acceptance
of what

i could not
change,
believing
endurance
was virtue,
god-blessing
the pain

and today today
i overstepped
the edge
finally i stand
on the narrow
ledge

could it be
i heard you say
what you said?

help me:
unsay it, i pray
before this heat
of hate
goes to my head
before my hands
stop stoppering
my breath;

before my scream
becomes blood
before my peace
becomes
violence
instead

Manuel Cardiga