You may have heard of me by Shazea Quraishi

You May Have Heard of Me

My father was a bear.He carried me through forest, skyand over frozen sea. At nightI lay along his backwrapped in fur and heatand while I slept, he ran,never stopping to rest, neverletting me fall.He showed me how to be as careful as stone,sharp as thorn and quickas weather. When he hunted alonehe’d leave me somewhere safe – high up a treeor deep within a cave.And then a day went on …He didn’t come.I looked and looked for him.The seasons changed and changed again.Sleep became my friend. It even brought my father back.The dark was like his fur,the sea’s breathing echoed his breathing.I left home behind, an empty skin.Alone, I walked taller, balanced better.So I came to the gates of this city—tall, black gates with teeth.Here you find me, keeping my mouth small,hiding pointed teeth and telling stories,concealing their truth as I concealthe thick black fur on my back.