The Pollen Diaries (Part II)

By John Poitier Jr.

And when the golden grains found my breath, 

They stole an ounce of hidden rest,

Until I slept, and slept away, 

My life, now just memories.

And in my dreams the glass veil shattered,

Diamonds birthed stone, gold begat clay,

Silk released clouds, and so little mattered,

for what had seemed infinite, in perfect reality, 

Was worth no more than the pollen.

And in my soul, an earthquake cried out,

In protest of what my life had been about, 

So many worries, so many cares, 

Seemed to erode into the willows and air.

And when I awoke, 

A quiet spring, 

Ran down my chin and to my lips,

Where the pollen grains stood, for just a day,

And slowly, 

With my sadness, 

Flowed away. 

About the Author

John Shaquille Poitier Jr., Virginia State University

John Shaquille Poitier Jr. is a Bahamian-born author, poet, and honors biology major at Virginia State University. He is the author of Mangoes in the Summertime, The Birds, and Son of Elohim, blending themes of faith, identity, and mental health. His work bridges science and storytelling, aiming to heal and inspire across disciplines and cultures.