Tashiona Brooks

Wisdom Beyond Reach

Here I lay awake in the mid-summer of year 1769. The sound of the roosters, and crows awaken me in the sunset hours. Born a child of a in and out mother and a father whom I never met. My eighteen birthday is approaching in 10 days and, I'm finally excited this time. Dreaming to finally soar like the barn owl who hoover 's at night while I read in my hammock. He's beautiful creature with pure white skin and piercing eyes. Oh, how I wish to also take flight. To a galaxy of a new life of love and a family. Daydreaming is a thing of the norm for me. It's the only time I feel at peace by letting my imagination run wild. Mama asked me to feed all the animals today and brush the horses. I sure do love my horse named night rider. I've had her when she was a little girl. Mane soft and black and twinkles in her eyes. She had a leg injury when born and after 5 years can finally walk. I spent the late nights rubbing her, reading her stories. And praying to the lord to give her strength with the power out of my reach for her to run wild like the other two. I have two sisters named pearl and savannah who constantly make fun of me for and night rider bond. I try to love them even though they laugh at everything that seems to bring me joy. I just can't understand how the treat me like Cinderella when I live to make them happy and provide love. Maybe I'll understand when I get older. The wind is blowing and it's taking me back to fantasy land. That's quickly interrupted due to me scattering to finish the chores before mama return home with her new boy toy lover Mr. Johnson. Maybe that's why she can't provide us with her heart, due to it being given away to worthless men over and over again. It makes me not even want a man if it's worth the relationship with your family and kids. Reading my bible has taught me I'm for sure that's not how love works. I do know to always keep my comments to myself being I got a black eye for only asking questions of the whereabouts of my birthfather. My mama calls it being disrespectful, but I call it not taking accountability. Bring in these bags she yells and wash up you smell like goat cheese. My cheeks turned rose red from the giggles of my sisters and her friend. Supper will be ready at 7 she says now run along and take a bath after closing barn doors and locking up. Yes, ma'am I respond and run along. After cleaning the hay and locking the chickens up I notice up ahead the beautiful owl staring at me on the shed door. I look and whisper to the owl, oh my lucky friend with wings, lend me your wings to sore like you. To be beautiful and bold like you. I return in the house to eat the porridge mama always make on Friday nights. Thank God, it's my sister turn to do dishes tonight being every dish is dirty tonight. I still go in and offer to help. She may not help me when I'm in despair, but my Lord told me to be different. To always be my brothers and sisters keeper. I cut the lights off and see mama laid on the couch with her friend. He has a creepy grin as I looked at them and continued to go to my room. I wrap my hair and lay, say a quick better for new beginnings to unfold as I'm almost legal to do for myself. Amen. Cock a doodle do, the rooster goes. Time to get up to go do my yoga and morning chores. I'm amazed to see I'm already in the barn when I awake looking at night rider. I'm confused on how this is possible when I went to sleep in my own twin size bed. Thats the least of my concerns when I look down and see I not in my own body but in the body of the barn owl. I open my beak to speak and can only make woot noises. Oh God what happen overnight where is my human body. I fly on the tree to see what's going on near my bedroom window. I see my body staring through my window with piercing eyes that's not mines. How did this owl get in my body? Who responsible for this? I hear so clearly as mama and her friend prepare to leave for the day. Mama I try to yell but she doesn't even look my way. Maybe God heard me and answered my prayers. I begin to embrace this road of mystery I woke up on and begin soaring up high like an eagle. The incredible feeling of the wind blew through my feathers. I flew at least 5 hours north to explore the land and oceans I've never seen before. I have the mind still of human form wondering is this my future to live in the wild. To wonder deep of if I will be able to return to my norm before my eighteenth birthday. Will I have a chance to say goodbye to my mother and sisters. Although I have no clue of how this occurred and if this is the incarnation of my future. I will be strong and optimistic through every obstacle I face. I am flying back home now to return on the barn door and await my fate. God use me endlessly as I return to stay awake tonight in a new image with new eyes.