Mother Pattern

Sylvester W. Merriam

here,

you wear confidence like an attire that fits so easily

you can't decide, 

because your schedule is being planned by the school. you wake your tired self up 

every morning, even when it feels silly

many days feel like a prison you'd want to break out of. you wake up, say your prayer, 

and it's another day to see how it goes.

the joy that comes in the morning has started complaining about transportation, 

but you dare be on time for class! 

hey, monique, that pattern at mother pattern is not for us.

II.

mother pattern — she's the mother of ancient discipline; as straight as a ruler, 

and hotter than a cook pot seat

she would give you pressure, just like the skip of a heart when you discover 

that you've reached the gate without an id card.

it's 5 out of 7 days, so you know it's really not for the weak! she's a mother — not the one at your church. 

and that's how she makes you strong for the cosmos.

Bio: Sylvester Merriam is a writer, poet, and visual creative from Liberia. Passionate about storytelling and artistic expression, he blends emotion, faith, and reality into pieces that resonate with people. He writes as a way of expressing thoughts, emotions, and everyday experiences, using words to reflect both personal insight and the realities around him. He also participated in a two-day literary colloquium, “The Triggering Town”: An Intimate Dialogue on African Literature and Poetry, which further strengthened his appreciation for poetry and creative expression. In the future, he aspires to grow into a voice that inspires, influences, and impacts people through creativity, literature, and meaningful artistic expression.