Hey, y’all! On Day 18 of National Poetry Month, the prompt is to write your own poem that provides five answers to the same question – without ever specifically identifying the question that is being answered. Here’s my poem:

Day 18 - FIVE ANSWERS 

By Farah Lawal Harris 

1.

I never considered it a choice not to. 

Pain was—no—is

part of the territory, 

the fare paid for living. 

What happens to those who don’t pay?

2.

My Daddy’s eyes are a cloudy midnight blue.

Whenever he has a twinkle in them when looking at me, 

they become clear.

I want to replicate that.

3.

I’ve been down, coal mine deep—no—

level right before hell deep

and God’s love was like a cool breeze,

a ray of sunshine in the dark, 

a thick rope to pull me out.

4.

I was not born to live an ordinary life. 

And in this story, simply put,

I am the protagonist

even when I am the antagonist.

I am the objective

even when I’m in the conflict.

I need to see the end of this world premiere play.

5.

Hope.

Better is always around the corner, 

even when it ain’t. 

Always.

I wanna peek. Just to see.

And I want to see you see me looking

and see you see me seeing you take a peek, too.

Just to see.