I have put all my “no’s” in you.
Tied rocks to them to weigh you down
but you threw them
from the cliffs
of my lips.
You tossed them into the waves
to smash against my ribcage.
With every touch you threw them.
With every breath they sunk.
You have silenced my “no,”
but never the storm raging
through my veins.
Not then
not ever.
The waters are familiar with these drowning soldiers;
anger will make them allies
and they will become again.
Nadine Klassen is a 23- year- old, previously unpublished artist from Germany. To her, writing is therapy resulting in catharsis.