Ophelia

Meron Berhanu

I see her before me,

hair unlike mine:

braided, twisted, permanent.

like the crow-flowers

hanging

loosely in her hands.

there will be no struggle.

just a woman floating,

waiting to drown.

but her eyes, looking up,

are mine.

the frame only goes as far as the trees

and moss

but not the sky.

tell me,

what sky did you see

before you closed your eyes? 

Did the fair sun shine,

was the sky full of shadows?

the closer I look, tell me –

why does it look like the sky

you see, is me?

and why are you painted

with all the colours in the world

but girls like you,

girls like me,

find themselves in the wet dark

drag of muddy brooks?

I look around and crawl into

the frame, into your river

floating between

waterline and air –

and I dream,

yes,

I’ve always liked that dream,

of angels who kiss my head,

and sing to me, sleepily –

Meron Berhanu is a British-Ethiopian poet and short story writer based in Kilburn, London. Her work delves into themes of identity, migration, and the intergenerational experiences of displacement, often exploring the complex relationship between daughterhood and motherland. As a first-generation British citizen, Berhanu's writing reflects her personal journey and the broader immigrant experience. She earned a Distinction in her MA in Creative Writing and has been recognised for her contributions to literature. Berhanu's poetry and short stories have been featured in various publications, including Poetry London, The Black Anthology by 10:10 Press, and 22 Under 22 by Flexible Press. Her work has also appeared in the Ephimiliar Journal. In 2019, she was shortlisted for the Beyond Borders Prize and the Working-Class Writers Prize.