Nominated

Maher, amazing as always. Love to see your work on the pages.

I keep going back to the first line. I've never heard anything remotely close to that and thinking what else sealing color, almost protecting it, could mean. Keeping the light secured, safe and sound so we can use it and lean on it later.

"The strongest of four is broken" made me think of the depth of sadness the mother must feel, witnessing her son's desperation.

The fourth stanza left me with chills, almost in a haunting way, knowing every turn can still stop you, because the wall is not finished yet. Being built, being secured, being made stable. Your thoughts keep running and waiting for you to collide then collapse.

There's such a heavy sense of loss in this, a mother feeling the darkness of what was once a light, buoyant child, now affected by the world and cruelty of the mind. Total stranger is accurate, especially those of us who seemed or saw ourselves as fully functioning before mental illness. Mental illness can then make us feel we are someone else, that sense of identity chipping away.

Such compassion and "mercy" in this from the mother, and such yearning to keep her son from losing all light. From believing all the fears and their lies.

You don't post too often, Maher, but trust me, I do read even if I don't always comment. Love hearing your voice, it stands out it in whatever you write and this is one of your most touching and powerful writes, at least in my opinion.

congratulations Mr Mayer, a fine winning piece. M :)