RIVERS IN THE SKY

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Uchenna Agbu

 

water rains down from the sky,

smears makeup across my face in light streaks

 

i think of my life and all the days that go by

without a doubt, i wish i was somebody else

 

sometimes

 

i stare at myself and pick out what i would change

but i know

i will remain the same

 

as i stare at the glass

there’s so much truth i could tell

nobody likes me

but i hide it well

 

i don’t think mirrors are for me but i stare anyway

i don’t think this is for me but i write anyway

 

clouds in the sky remind me of my own mind

freckled and spaced out

like i’m fresh out of thoughts

 

but i run to find a river in the sky

and think what it would cost

to rent a soul for the day

 

time’s passing by

and i think of my life in cool colors

flashing lights

and restless nights

 

i think of the river and the windows

that i should’ve thrown my soul through

i search for the river

 

i think i might find it

if i open my eyes wide enough

 

or maybe i don’t need the river

maybe i’m doing just fine

 

i shouldn’t go searching for sunlight

when it’s right here in my hands

 

i look out of the window

and i’m happy that this river has someone to love them

but i can’t stop thinking

 

i’m still searching for the river i had long ago.

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Uchenna Agbu is a Theatre Arts major (Class of 2024), with minors in Creative Writing and Human Resource Management, from Burlington, New Jersey. At Rutgers, she serves as Membership Chair for the Scarlet NAACP and Director of Alumni Relations for The Livingston Theatre Company. She is a member of Douglass Residential College and is currently completing an internship at Rutgers Center for Women and Work. Outside of writing, she enjoys singing, reading, and watching coming-of-age movies.