Death Will Not Reach Me

By Binta Yade

death will not reach me 

before peace does 

because I have found it 

nestled in the space where the waves meet 

rock 

where the water bubbles and glides and rock remains firm 

I have found it in people who act as rock and allow me to be water 

I have found it flying over mountains that have never heard my name 

and on cliff tops facing a horizon that doesn’t know of its fame 

death will not find me before peace does 

because I have found it 

in children’s laughter 

and their worries 

in community that communes forgivingly

I have found it in hobbies revived after 2 decades away 

and in the small freedom that comes in major heartbreak 

death will not find me 

before peace does

again and again  

because there is peace at the apex of mountains 

I’m yet to climb 

and in the nooks of reefs 

I’m yet to explore

there is peace in bites of foods I’ve yet to try and in the arms of people I’m yet to know 

there is peace in the soliloquies of languages I’ve yet to hear 

and in the pollen of flowers I’ve yet to smell 

so death will not find me before peace does 

because peace has found me 

and finds me again daily 

hourly 

constantly 

so death may come 

and come it may 

but peace was here first 

and peace will remain 

By Binta Yade