Belonging - Windblown by Elizabeth Obadina

I stood at a crossroads

Where a breeze once blew

Heavy with the scents of pine, of ozone, of roses and lavender

Of honeysuckle and pungent creosote on a hot summer’s day.

And I left them all behind me

And took another way.

 

I stood at a crossroads

As a sandstorm blew through

Whirling grit into my eyes, into my hair and into my jeep

And the plastic seats turned to sandpaper in the blistering heat

So I left it all behind

And took another way.

 

I stood at a crossroads

As a wind howled along

High buildings, dark alleys, chilly bus stops and tube tunnels

And crisp packets danced in frenzies and umbrellas turned inside out.

I left them all behind me

And took another way.

 

I stood at a crossroads

Melting, as the air stood stagnant

And nothing stirred and even hawkers sought shelter from the blazing sun

And the smell of gutters and diesel and fried food rose and choked me

So I left them all behind

And took another way.

 

I stood at a crossroads

Whilst a storm split the sky

With lightening bolts and racing clouds and machine-gunned rain

And as they died away the scent of wet gardenias and sweet jasmine reminded me

Of what I’d left behind

When I took another way.