Martyr
Each one becomes a martyr
whose vehicles are driven by the sun
chariots spilling truth
and soaked in blood
now, we’ll live with these images
and witness the cover up and lies
trying to blind us
or we could pull together like the elements of a storm
chanting your names, creating thunder
walking hand in hand, lightening, splitting hate
when they come for us
we won’t disband but become one
creating the arc of a rainbow
your actions canonised in colour.
-for Good & Pretti
This Winter
Ice clings to the roads and streets
many have locked the doors
children spend their play in huddles
cuddles are panicked into whispers
outside, winter, bated breath so cold
some voices have frozen
others gather en masse, their down jackets
a colourful field of flowers, memory of a season past
everyone, like smartphones, recording the moment-
drawn to a hotspot surrounded by fear.
Civil Liberty
Yes, now. You created a protest sign on the kitchen table that states
the truth and still I fear joining you. Don’t go. Stay a little longer. I cling
to every image in your arms. I know I can’t hold this moment in place. It’s
your right and my right too, everything is at stake.
In the end, I’m a frightened puppy at the door when you don’t return.
TAK Erzinger is an American/Swiss poet and artist with a Colombian background. Erzinger’s poetry collection “At the Foot of the Mountain,” (Floricanto Press 2021), won the University of Indianapolis, Etchings Press Whirling Prize for 2021. It has recently been republished by Grey Border Book, Canada. Her last poetry collection “Tourist” (Sea Crow Press 2023) was also a finalist at the Eyelands Book Awards 2023 and International Book Awards 2024. Most recently her first children’s picture book, At the Queen of the Mountain won 5 awards in 2025.
She lives in the Alps in Switzerland with her husband and two cats.
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