Away

 

I slide my Converse off and perch in half-lotus on the armless chair. (I used to sit cross-legged but now I practice yoga.) Ribs spiral away from the spine; I inhale. Exhale, ribs roll in. Spiral away, roll in. Away. In. Away.

Through the skylight, no cirriform wisp, no crows; simply cerulean until the leaf. Lop-sided descent, dipping more, swinging high, crisp brown edges, dry veins, frail. Until the little drunken boat lands on the skylight.

Last month Dad shed his body for flight. Away.

 

Long shadows

give shape

to light.

evergreen

 

I shake loose the ravel of branches,

easy, making space for the clear white lights

and glittery colors that will adorn her,

the same way a few tears spill over,

easy, making space for dark winter mornings

and the glow of this new evergreen.

 

snoozing

The sun is buried deep

in clouds and fog

but light as soft as my pillow

spills green over the room.

 

Fingertip raindrops

tap-tap-tap the skylight

as drizzle shimmers

on the leaves outside

my open windows.

 

When the tinny alarm shrieks

I hit snooze without debate.

 

Five more minutes, then five minutes more

delaying the rush of Monday morn.

the mind of an oyster

 

 

 

One must have the mind of an oyster

who builds a home from her own substance,

to possess the grain of sand that slips in

while she opens her body to the sea.

 

Not one to expel a challenge     

her voluptuous mantle

embraces the grain,

gifting nacre layer upon layer,

 

until a smooth white gem,

cool to the touch,

radiating an iridescent fire,

is borne.

 

The oyster knows the sand

is the heart of the gemstone.

 

 

*****

This poem was written in response to an invitation from Tweetspeak Poetry.

Click HERE  for to join us!

haircut

 

Interrupting chemo’s cruelty

I wield the silver blades which

until now, had simply trimmed bangs,

snipped itchy tags out of shirt collars.

 

A fine paintbrush of mom’s black hair

in one hand; the other shaken

by tiny vibrations,

each strand liberated

as the scissors close over them

by my will.

 

Finished, our gazes lock

in the bathroom mirror.

 

Mother, daughter.

 

Wordless, standing.

 

 

This poem was inspired by the Tweetspeak Book Club featuring Megan Willome’s new title,”The Joy of Poetry.”  Writing for life is so much better in community~Will you be our poetry buddy?

camera obscura

 

between noonday shadows

in a pinhole space

 

the unseen,

now gathered

 

visible

 

still intangible

 

in the glowing belly

butterfly shadow

at our feet

 

for one day

this day

 

a brief inversion

for all the days

to follow.

communion

 

 

The bread and herbed oil arrive

on the table just after the water and wine.

 

With bare hands we tear the bread

and dip it into a golden sea, 

savoring the taste,

anointing the words we give

to each other and receive.

 

Ash Wednesday

 

The morning we laid Nanny to rest,

snowflakes settled around us

like the ashen fallout

of Feast day fireworks.

::

Their only purpose, our need

of a white covering,

*

a shroud over the casket,

footsteps on blanketed ground

*

This day, a cross of ashes on my forehead.

 

In memory of our grandmother Carma Rinaldi, 6/18/1910-2/11/2010

 

the storm’s passed

the storm’s passed

*

above, blue

and bright sun wait

for clouds

to roll out

*

fairysips

on a leaf, linger

*

take their time

returning

to the sky.

creativity

wandering, wondering

*

i take my place

among the trees

toes deep, gathering

arms wide, sheltering

*

exhaling, releasing

*

when the west wind

rustling leaves, draws

nymphs from their sleep

i am caught in between

swaying limbs, dancing

to a sacred song of

treetops whispering

*

then slowly, silencing

*

like the trees

my body holds secrets

connecting me from history

to possibility