Seiza 正座 Poem by Elena Sandu

Pathetically deluded
eyes went out of focus
Her frozen feet were silently screaming
-Why? Why don't you warm me?
Get out of here, stand up, move us!
But she kept sitting, in control of her breathing
Crunching knees under her hips
Ice and stone like cold immobile toes
ankles awkwardly turned
discretely touched by red hands
clenching on thighs, from time to time
her pulse playing the same rhythm,
a poem she's writing in mind
About how untouchable shadows
are fighting
Own needs.