tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55637883027652220602024-03-13T23:44:09.458-04:00winged unicornfly? crash and burn? sit with wings folded, invisible? options options options. there is no liability until the options are exercised, but if they are never exercised they are truly worthless.Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.comBlogger403125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-74166555940498588342024-02-08T16:39:00.005-05:002024-02-08T16:39:59.278-05:00The Ring<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Tonight,
I sleep with a cadaver.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">My
husband, the denier, as the CLL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">strengthened
by long term COVID<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">consumes
him, pound by pound.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Your
wedding band,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">indestructible
titanium and carbon,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">surface
marred and scarred <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">sand
blasted, acrylic chipped,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">ungloved
victim of some abandoned project<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">lies
in the dirt, flung from fingers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">shrunk,
shriveled, from <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">hands
once full and strong, thick with muscle,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">now
trembling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Even
the swiftly shipped replacement<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">two
sizes down<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">spins
freely with each movement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
slide the pristine ring<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">onto
my left pointer finger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">so
close to mine<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">so
far from mine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">It
knows this is not its place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
move it to my other hand<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">settle
it on my right ring finger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">My
flesh seizes it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
can fight no more,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">knees
crumple and I <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">rest
my head on your chair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">It
is cold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
light candles, adding one<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Confused
by the array<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Who
are they all? Who do I remember?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Who
still lives in the life after life<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">as
they are remembered by me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Does
my confusion erase them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Does
it erase me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Who
am I if I am not?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">So
many doors locked behind me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">abandoned
homes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">sad
dreams<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">distorted
memories<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">overwriting
some truth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">that
no one knows any more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
feel your hands take mine<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
see you, and so many more<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">waiting
for me in the forever <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">home
that will be a home<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I
drop the key down the sewer grate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">and
walk into your embrace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-21807691042213317912024-02-08T16:11:00.000-05:002024-02-08T16:11:07.781-05:00Reading Tea Leaves<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Aisles of tea, pushing an empty
cart<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">staring at shelves, paralyzed<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">the wrong tea, the wrong tea<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">small bags and large bags and
loose leaves <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">and distillates and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">single servings <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">and and and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">if I take the wrong tea<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I drive, gas gauge blinks<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">empty alert<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">but I drive<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">backseat trunk passenger seat
filled<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">every tea<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">strainers filters water boilers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Strip mall parking lot, empty
except for <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">homeless shopping carts and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">third shifters of the dark<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">temporary haven<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I can’t go home<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are crackers waiting to be
dunked<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">crushed salt for the wrong tea<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Safer to sleep in the <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">shadow of the lower bagmen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">who haven’t scored notches <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">who don’t have teardrop tattoos<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">than to face those hands <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">pantomime communion <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">wafer in wine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">bread in hemlock<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">crackers in tea<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-30534977025293775532024-02-08T16:08:00.002-05:002024-02-08T16:08:31.926-05:0027<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Three cubed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">That is how many times<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">today<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">I reminded myself <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">that invisible disabilities <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">deserve my patience<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">and love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">and all I want <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">is to be free<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">of this burden <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">and all I fear <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">is that day is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">coming<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">soon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-64697053884735769342023-12-20T10:42:00.000-05:002023-12-20T10:42:11.031-05:00Sunset on a Wheelbarrow<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dust
road shimmer, another dry afternoon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">cloudburst
just enough for runnels <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
rotting spilt grain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a
week’s worth of grain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on
the ground, near the coop<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but
not enough for new corn growing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
unshriveled beans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She
sends the children<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">barrow
tippers of grain now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">mixed
with rotgut bottles in the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">knobbyshade
tree roots<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
a neighbor, watches<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
chickens peck peck peck<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">at
precious scattered gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yellow
marks and cigarette ‘O’s<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on
her arms, neck and thighs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wait
for new color.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
is no money to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">paint
the house<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">soon
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">she
will be vivid as sunset.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For William Carlos Williams<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 22.0pt;">Published in Deland Museum of Art 2023 Collection</span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-17194097803653500722023-12-20T10:39:00.002-05:002023-12-20T10:39:27.608-05:00I'll Feed Your Cats<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sure, Good Buddy,
I’ll feed your cats<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The nice grey
one, wo rubs his head against my leg<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And the nasty
black one, who hisses and scratches at<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Everyone<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">But I think that
is because he had a <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Difficult
childhood.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll feed your
cats for a few days<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">While you’re in
Heart of Florida<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Since your
neighbor waroound the corner<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Decided it is too
difficult<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">To unlock the
door twice a week and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Refill the water
bowls and automatic feeder.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll stop at the
store and pick up<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Cat food and
litter and treats<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Come by twice a
week even though it is <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">At least 90
minutes roundtrip<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And I’m not
retired like your friend across the way <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Who was friends
with your parents<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And regales me
with stories of card games with your mom -which he lost –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">But at least he gets
the mail.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll feed your
cats for a few weeks<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">When I’m not
sitting with you at<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Consulate
Davenport or Palmer or Bartow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">At least they
lifted some of the COVID restrictions <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So I can visit
and not have to talk to you through a window<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And I can bring
you gum and pudding and new shirts<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And socks and it
is ok to give them to you without going through <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The sterilization
chamber.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll feed your
cats for a few months<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">While you’re home
with that healthcare worker <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Who is supposed
to assist you with common living tasks<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">But when I spend
the weekend, after you pick out a movie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I throw in the
laundry and run by Publix to get groceries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Before we discuss
God and religion and is there reincarnation and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Who is saved and
I didn’t know you were a minister.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll feed the
cats for a few years<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">While negotiating
with the HOA <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Over the unmowed
grass and the fallen leaves<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And the lawyers
and the insurance agencies<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And bring your
Bible <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The pocket Bible,
not the large one, the pocket Bible<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Well-thumbed and
dogeared<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">To the rehab
center in Sebring or Bartow or <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Even Celebration.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll feed the
cats for a few more years<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Because I don’t
want you to worry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">When your heart
clogs from<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Untreated
diabetes and ulcerated wounds<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll pack your
books and guitars<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The painting you
inherited from your uncle who died of alcoholism<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Bring them all to
my place when the roof caves in<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">because I can do
that for you, Good Buddy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ll feed your
cats for forever<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Spending
thousands of hours and thousands of dollars<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And don’t fucking
tell me I’m <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Doing God’s work
and getting Karma Points<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Because I am
tired and already stretched too thin and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Too depressed and
too over-worked and support too many people<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And I am done ith
being the practical dependable reliable one<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">But I love you,
Good Buddy,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I don’t want to
lose you<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Even a little bit
of you<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So I’ll pick up
another bag of kitty litter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And another bag
of dry food<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">And a few cans of
wet as a treat for your babies<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Because I’ll feed
your cats.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-50192421477217091152023-01-11T22:37:00.003-05:002023-01-11T22:37:52.706-05:00Four Truths and a Lie<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughter steps past him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">not seeing him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But I do<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I see the huddled form<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">not much more than the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ratty moving blanket<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s wrapped in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">against the odd Florida chill<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughter steps past him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">not smelling him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">but I do<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When he rises and staggers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">standing between the dumpsters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">to pee the reek of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">urine and alcohol and unwashed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">carries on the breeze<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughter steps past him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">not hearing him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But I do<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The hacking glob of sputum<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">padding of his bare feet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">hand thudding on the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">wall holding him upright<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">echo through the parking lot<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughter steps past him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">asks me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Have you seen him?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The homeless guy, with the ragged
blanket?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Really skinny, has dreads?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I give him a dollar most mornings,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">but today he wasn’t here<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Yesterday either …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughter opens the car door<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">strokes her baby’s hair<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Have you seen him?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-28684649738870023442023-01-11T22:36:00.001-05:002023-01-11T22:36:30.761-05:00Enigma Machine<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Doorways, hallways, coffins of possibility<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">if you press the buttons in the correct sequence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">if you solve the enigma riddle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">stop the cypher shadow mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">lasciate ogne speranza voi ch'intrate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A small black bird<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Turing, chained by love unspoken<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">never spoken.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He breaks his vow of silence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">vow of fear, vow of thwarted need.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The lid will slide over his shrouded form<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">over the coins pressed into his eye sockets<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">gently smother his breath<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as the raven mutters a prayer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">scatters a beakful of dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-63377022086901792742023-01-11T22:34:00.000-05:002023-01-11T22:35:06.020-05:00EmmaLee<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eyes closed, does not matter.
Anywhere, everywhere<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Change, deny, anger, grief. Cannot
escape, still<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I see the shadow of your tomb there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember tears of a time when every
hair<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">you lost trailed hope by the pitchful<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eyes closed, does not matter.
Anywhere, everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And apricots and placebos and
clinicals were<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the daily dosage locking up the
door. Still<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I see the shadow of your tomb there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moonface, bloated Sobibor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">your purpled flesh, bones now fragile<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eyes closed, does not matter.
Anywhere, everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Counting months, counting up to
safety year<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">drop and shatter the magic eight ball<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eyes closed, does not matter.
Anywhere, everywhere<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I see the shadow of your tomb there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-63997210420701658262023-01-11T22:32:00.002-05:002023-01-11T22:32:41.734-05:00Café Lucca, Very Late, on a Tuesday<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He pulls the handle, then a slow
steam hiss<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The priests, close by, converse in
Tuscano<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Biscotti, cannoli, mouthfuls of bliss<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He pulls the handle, then a slow
steam hiss<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You pull me in closer, seeking a kiss<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While I stir sweet, thick, precious
espresso<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He pulls the handle, then a slow
steam hiss<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The priests, close by, converse in
Tuscano<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FSPA 2022 Triolet Contest - 2nd place</span></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-68376844518806344292023-01-11T22:29:00.001-05:002023-01-11T22:30:25.760-05:00[Un]Happy Birthday, Sweetheart - Excerpt<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">It was 4:25 am. He put on jeans and a sweatshirt, went downstairs. Might
as well get coffee, he could stretch that for an hour or two, until it was a reasonable
time to get dressed for real.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">He opened the door. She was sitting on the stoop, on the next to the top
step, leaning against the rail. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“I’m sorry, I am so sorry, I couldn’t sleep. I was so lonely, I am so
lonely, so sad. I … I … I came here. I’m sorry. I was going to leave as soon as
it got light. Before you got up. You weren’t supposed to see me. I wanted to be
someplace I didn’t feel hated.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">He sat down, put an arm around her shoulders so she could rest against
him. She was skinny, skinnier than he’d ever seen her. Every time her life wrecked,
she lost weight. She probably weighed less than his dog. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">“Are you hungry?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> She shook her head. “I don’t remember hungry. I’ll leave.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “I’m sorry for leaving you. Stay.
At least until daybreak.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> “I understand. I do. I want to
leave me, too. Here.” She opened her purse, pulled out a magazine. “Here. It is safer for me if I don’t have
that.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> He held the magazine. One
chamber was empty. Which meant, maybe, that she still had a bullet in the
gun. He didn’t want to ask, didn’t want
to know.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> They sat on the stoop and
watched the stars cede their light to the sun.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-74943514686317995372022-01-06T17:08:00.002-05:002022-01-06T17:10:10.990-05:00Chris Dance<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The first thing I saw when I woke
was Chris’ face<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Eyes still shut hovering on the
inside<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">That bright orange; a Warhol Chris<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Pressed into my eyelid<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Haloed with blues and fours<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Chris’ face, before the accident<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Before the crush of metal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Before the diesel fire melted<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The asphalt and flesh into one<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Chris’ face, and a slowly turning
wheel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There is a ghost bike there<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A tree swallowed part<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Gardenias drape the rest<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">At the turning of the year<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I clean the leaves and spin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The wheel <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Still see Chris’ face against the
inside of my eye<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I am old now and clippings are
brittle<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The ghost tree is tall grown
through<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The wheels don’t spin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I sit on the roots<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Chris dancing behind my eyes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Chris dancing …<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The last thing I saw before I
slept<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Was Chris’ hand<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Reaching for me to dance<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Winner, 1st Place FSPA 2021 June Owens Memorial Award</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Published in Cadence 2021</p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-49582974270748360732022-01-06T17:03:00.001-05:002022-01-06T17:13:20.019-05:00Sweater<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I started this many, many years ago. Poem, prose, poem, prose. Not satisfied. Unfinished. After 8?10? years of 'not there yet' I realized the narrator had more to say, a conclusion. So I paused, listened to the words behind the words, to what happened after the Great Ending. And then I knew. While we can't go back, we can't keep turning ourselves into pillars of salt. we can keep a few pieces, light a candle, sing a reprise. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening another box of clothes, winter clothes this time-</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How many years since I needed winter clothes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">since I lived in a land of slush and ice-broken trees? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here, despite the perpetual August of Florida, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wear long sleeves to protect myself from <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">excessive air-conditioning<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">or perhaps to hide the knife calligraphy <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">paisley tribal keloids<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">trailing around my wrists<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">handwriting on concrete walls <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">not yet driven into. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I place more shirts on<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">another shelf and take<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">another pile out of a<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">maw-gape box.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Where did that come from? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How in god’s good name did that end up here? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve moved so many times since then, since that life, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">at least a dozen times in the past year alone, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">from car <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to shelter <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to bedsit <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to short stay <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to extended stay <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to here, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">finally, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">a place that I can call my own <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and now this? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That old fisherman sweater he wore.Once.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fifteen? Twenty? years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It still smells of him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That sweater. My fingers tremble, reach out<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to the sweater that escaped Goodwill <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and garbage and abandonment<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to the sweater that somehow hung onto<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> a fragment of a shadow of me<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to the sweater still in the box and <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I stroke it with fingertips. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kiss them, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">as if they had just touched the Torah, the holy book, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">pick up the sweater, hold it to my cheek, eyes closed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kneeling by that box, swaying slightly, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">time slows to stop. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It still smells of him, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">testosterone musk and the chemical reek <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">of stage two alcoholism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rising bile squeezes my trachea, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">his hands around my throat, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">fingerprint dust in my nose, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">so hard to breathe, let alone think. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rubbing my face on it, inhaling him, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">the texture of him on my skin, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">remembering it as a Proustian call, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">as a seismic vibration, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">as a marker in my DNA.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">His Jack Daniels-coated tongue against mine,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">now moving over me, lapping at the whiskey, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">spilt by clinking glasses,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">the whiskey pooled in my navel,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">white powder fueled laughter <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">emerging between numbed kisses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I can feel him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh god, I remember. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am doomed to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I stand, slip my arms into<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">that sweater he wore, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">that sweater he wore <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">once <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and only once, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and made his own. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hands trace the cables, in out, in out, in out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pull it down over face, neck, torso, smooths <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">the soft cotton over breasts that he touched, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">held, loved, so long ago, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">pulls the sweater all the way down to my hips. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lean against the wall, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">as his phantom grinds against me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I slide down the wall to the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wrap my arms, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">warm sweatered arms <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">around my knees and bury my face in them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I drown my lungs in nicotine ghosts, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">a beached creature seeking oxygen <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">in an alien place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Mama, mama, we’re hungry. We want lunch.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My children call from the next room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Just a sec, sweeties.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I pull that sweater off, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">drop it on the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Mac and cheese or sandwiches?” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-65821954091930440722021-03-29T22:34:00.002-04:002021-03-29T22:35:27.558-04:00Happy Birthday Sweetheart Part 3<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>My husband
is fucking me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> <span> </span></span>while I think about my dead ex-lover</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>how you
swore you’d never leave me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> <span> </span></span>never say no to me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> <span> </span></span>never forget me</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>But you did</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>you left me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>you forgot me</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>you said no to me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>in the acid cold
of a summer breeze</span><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>And I never
got to tell you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> </span> <span> </span>how sad the cup you used<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>for drinking evening coffee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> <span> </span> </span>laced with Kahlua<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>how sad it
looks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> </span> <span> </span>porcelain stained</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> <span> </span></span></span><span>a chip on the base</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>how sad<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span> </span><span> </span>sitting on the top shelf of the
cupboard</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span>behind the
wine glasses.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="text-indent: 1cm;"></p>Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-78911120558115443542020-11-24T21:50:00.004-05:002021-03-29T22:36:13.083-04:00Moving Day<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">They empty my closet</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">sorting shirts and pants and dresses <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">into piles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">for Goodwill or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">The Women’s Shelter or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">Some Memory Bear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">The papers and books get tossed <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">into a soon-to-be pyre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">Furniture, cookware, tumbled, trashed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">The fridge. They remove a plate of cookies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">cookies I made, cookies I saved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">Cookies from a holiday party you never attended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">Another plate, another party of one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">The freezer is full of cookies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">Saved from all the parties you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">never attended. You were too busy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">Into the trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">They divvy up ‘the good stuff.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">You take nothing,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">click the lockbox as you leave.</span><o:p style="font-size: 22pt;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 107%;">Published in <i>Poetic Visions Poetry Competition & Exhibition 2020 Anthology - Museum of Art - Deland</i></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-80784199471655671222020-07-03T22:54:00.000-04:002020-07-03T22:54:12.174-04:00Sunrise, Sunset<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My son
stands, hip deep, in the Atlantic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
thin
flowered dress plastered to his thighs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
walking
along the surf, pushing his curls<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
behind his
ears, the long, thin fingers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
topped
by bitten nails.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Delicate
eyebrows shade his blue eyes,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the same
shade of blue as mine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am
mesmerized by his beauty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Blessed with
ignorance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
that he has
already started <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
weekly
injections<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
into those
pale thighs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In a few
months,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the blood
will stop flowing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
from his
shriveling uterus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My son
turns, smiles,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
blows me a
kiss.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A wave
drenches him <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and he
laughs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For his 18<sup>th</sup>
birthday,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
he changed
his name.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I say
kaddish for my daughter-dreams<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and rock my
new born son<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
in my arms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2nd Place, Gwendolyn Brooks Award 2019</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Published in Revelry 2019</div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-71940828728430882642020-07-03T22:50:00.002-04:002020-07-03T22:50:49.474-04:00Three Seasons of Glass <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Scratching at the glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the casing the sills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I suck the tiny <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">lead paint infected<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">wood flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">from under my nails<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">feeding the pica that
will kill me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">sometime in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Snow builds up on the
grilles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ice patterns on the panes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">hold my hand to melt another
pattern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is cold here, almost
as cold as out there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">no one looks my way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">no one looks at me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">no one sees<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">no one remembers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">me, licking the glass,
waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rain makes new designs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">wearing off the dirt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">press against the glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">banging head until welts
form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blood trails bookmatch
the rivulets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Harder. More blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I see the sky,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">deeper blue behind the
rain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">as I wait and wait, for
sun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-35185205019872882892019-11-11T16:32:00.002-05:002019-11-11T16:35:42.511-05:00The ice Floes<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve
left my mates, dying, on tundra tracks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Opening
the small tins of potted meat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Discover
just sawdust inside to eat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
sledged, exhausted, past the icy cracks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether
cold, scurvy, or evil attacks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dragging
myself, my tent, my stove for heat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despair.
I stagger on, with frozen feet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
dream my mates are dead, piled in stacks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Arctic
summer flowers, it lasts a night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
press on, snow blind, wind howls, black toes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
press on, voices sing, strip off my clothes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Arctic
winter sullen, it ends a life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps,
they’ll find my smiling corpse one day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps,
they’ll leave a marker where I lay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Winner 1st Place 2019 FSPA Petrarchan Sonnet</o:p></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-28503382750205085582019-11-11T16:26:00.003-05:002019-11-11T16:35:31.767-05:00Wool Jacket<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You
never said a word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What
did you do in the war, Daddy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
was in Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Four
years in Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
came back, mostly in one piece.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
button the heavy wool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">suitable
for mountains and trenches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">but
not the Florida sunshine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Go
outside to smoke a cigarette<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">blowing
smoke rings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">like
you taught me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
match glow highlights my bones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">so
I look like you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Silent,
too thin, lost in that hell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">which
left you with a limp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a
long skinny scar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">from
midspine to thigh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and
a Purple Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">you
kept in your sock drawer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nothing
to say, baby girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
went. I came home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
mash out the cigarette in a seashell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and
bury my face in the musty wool of <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Daddy’s
war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Winner 1st Place 2017 FSPA Lt George Birkner Memorial Award</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-17671237952324158982019-10-02T13:38:00.002-04:002019-10-02T13:38:17.411-04:00The Quest for the Holy Grail<div class="MsoNormal">
Hot<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Juicy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Toothsome<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sliding down my throat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gooey stringiness<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Accented with texture<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spongy exterior with a<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Solid interior<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a tad salty<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that’s what I call<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A perfect mushroom-swiss burger<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Checkers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
99 cents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-55262385513230215152019-10-02T13:33:00.003-04:002019-10-02T13:33:34.391-04:00Last Call<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I hear you
calling,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
you and my
friends<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
from the old
neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
They want to
play stickball<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and
shootzies<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and war,
pretending <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the dirt
mounds in the junkyard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
are
foxholes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But we
didn’t know from foxholes,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
not then,
not yet,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
not for a
few more years, anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You’re all
calling me to come,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
come out and
play,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tell us
about Big City Adventures<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and small
city escapades.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I hear one
soft voice<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
inside all
the other voices<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
sometimes
reading with me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and I
correct your pronunciation<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of the
harder words.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I hear one
voice, your voice,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
calling me,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
come, come
out,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
it’s time to
come out and play,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
your voice, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
my baby
brother, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
my best
friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I heard your
first cry<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and your
last whimper<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and your
call.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-80181683152427198872019-10-02T13:32:00.000-04:002020-07-03T22:48:23.469-04:00Borrowed Pajamas<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You borrowed
a too big tee-shirt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
when you
spent the night<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
so big it
grazed your knees.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It shrank in
the wash.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now, it barely
brushes your hip bones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It shrank<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
over the
long years<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of borrowing
and <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
not
borrowing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The neckline
which hung off your shoulders<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
settles
nicely on your collarbone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Your face
fades from the mirror <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
while I
brush my teeth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I fold the
shirt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
place it on
the closet shelf<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
shut the
door.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
3rd Place, Gwendolyn Brooks Award 2020</div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-59774137865978456022019-10-02T13:30:00.000-04:002019-10-02T13:30:25.518-04:00Library Nooks<div class="MsoNormal">
Memories of here with my mother<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did we sit and read, look at pictures?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each book another color, different binding,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
faded, new, embossed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love for words sacred source<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a place with books always<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a haven<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a heaven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When pain and hunger clawed<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
she lost herself in words<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
crawled into the pages<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
under the flyleaf.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will I tell her story?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will I tell my own?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each book another color<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Walls of books surround us<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I transcribe the echoes of her whispers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
write our stories<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and am <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-12210318438520035042019-10-02T13:28:00.002-04:002019-10-02T13:28:42.214-04:00Prospect Park 1973<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was a
long ride on a warm spring afternoon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
when no one
was home anyway to miss me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The meadow
grass called, Reading Time!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was
fourteen and alone, gloriously alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I lay there
on my belly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
deep into
Jane Eyre <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
for the
fifth time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A young man
stopped running<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
sat down
next to me his hands on <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
mythighswaistass
talking<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
asking
questions as I tried to read.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Confused,
resentful, scared,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
he threw a
leg over mine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was
fourteen and alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two men on their
bicycles paused<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
called to
me, “Hey, miss, is that guy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
bothering
you?” I was silent, motionless.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Punk, get
your hands off her. Now, punk.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
They stood
there, waiting as he<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
rolled away,
walked away, muttering<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
about
strangers bothering people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The men came
closer as I put my book<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
in my
knapsack, picked up my bicycle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Miss, it’s
not safe here, not for a young girl.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You’re what?
Fourteen? And you’re alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“We have
daughters. Please be careful.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
They rode
with me to the avenue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I went home,
still alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-46193793492630761022019-10-02T13:27:00.002-04:002019-10-02T13:32:18.247-04:00Baby Shoes<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
clearance rack way back<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
near the
restrooms<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
is filled
with mismatched shoes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The worn
display right foot <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the pristine
boxed left shoe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
shoes who’ve
lost their mates<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
under some
coatrack<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and the odd
sizes <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
rejected by parents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
‘because
kids grow so damned fast these days,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
it ain’t
worth buying shoes that fit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just size em
up.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I browse the
rack of toddler shoes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
white cowboy
boots<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
faux patent
leather mary janes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
complete
with taps<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
light up
sneakers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I slide my
hands into the sneakers,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dance them
along the shelf, the side bar,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
bins of
public domain DVDs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
wishing I
could make <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
starlight<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
with my
feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And there it
is! A pair of <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
purple fringed
sandals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
double
buckles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and a pale
yellow flower<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
over the big
toe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
like a gaudy
cocktail ring.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
They are
size 11.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I imagine
them on my baby’s feet,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
her painted
toenails wearing <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
That Big
Yellow Flower.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
They even
have glitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Every little
girl wants <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
purple glitter
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
double buckle
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
yellow
flower<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
fringed
sandals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Every mommy
wants to see her baby in<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
purple
glitter <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
double
buckle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
yellow
flower <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
fringed
sandals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
with tiny
green and pink toenails glowing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I take them
out to Long Island<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and leave
them on aisle seven<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
instead of a
pebble.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563788302765222060.post-7096292942317025112018-02-05T17:46:00.001-05:002018-02-05T17:46:57.502-05:00Happy Birthday Sweetheart<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Every year </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">the chorus on
the </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">other side
of the veil</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">grows.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Numb to the
oldest members’</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">tenor-alto-soprano,
their buzzes</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">are a gentle
sting at the base of my spine.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The newest
addition, an off-key tenor,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">with raucous
glee,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">chants his
own version</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">of that
ancient hymn.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">His fingers
caress my scars, pausing</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">against the
shadowed fractures of my ribs,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">as they
climb,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">until they
cradle my naked skull.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He removes
his kippah,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">the one I
made him </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">for some
long-forgotten event,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">puts it on
me</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">to keep me
warm.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The only
voice I hear is mine,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">chanting the
kaddish</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">as I light
the candles,</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">adding one.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 1cm;">
</div>
Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836345873601125705noreply@blogger.com0