2019 Poetry Contest Second Place Winner

Flee

by Anlorey Alvarado

The bottoms of our feet turned into the palms of construction workers at every stride that high-fived the stiffened ground

The bottoms of our stomachs melted into the icing on top of cinnamon rolls as everyday we pushed our insides to hunger

The bottoms of our throats were the parched sky of the Sahara desert at every drop of sea that we sacrificed

For our bodies may feel at the bottom and lowest parts of ourselves

Our hearts were filled to their entirety, like a field of sunflowers, each one shining

Each one determined to be full
again

At the sight of the ones that harbor the name

“Home.”