‘You and me’ by Josephine Russell, age 14, Year 9, Kesteven and Grantham Girls School

Always together

wing in wing

hand in hand

flying through the storm

 

When the lightning hammers

and the rain pounds

when the fire ravages

and the mountains brawl

 

I look over and I know

it’s Me and You

 

Always together

wing to wing,

hand in hand

manoeuvring through the storm

 

Whilst the ocean pummels

and the boulders bludgeon,

whilst the earth erupts

and the rivers thrash

 

I turn, and I hear

that you’ll always be near

 

Wing to wing

hand to hand

diving through the storm

 

When the sky trembles

and the moon recoils,

when the stars falter

and the sun cowers,

 

You stand and you swear

to always be there,

“Because we’re in this together”,

Always and forever.

 

Your wing, and My wing.

Your hand, and my hand,

falling through the storm.

 

But when the dishes shatter,

and the windows break.

When the silence fractures,

and the world aches.

 

I look over, and I see:

no You, only me.

 

No longer together.

Wing in wing.

Hand in hand.

As I’m drowning in the storm.

 

Wondering…

 

If we were ever for real