Calm

The door frame marked her exit;

One space between life and death.

Heart pounding against skull

Pushing her forward.

Outside was not far enough.

There must be more;

A distance

Between

The synapses.

They register fear-

Scream for escape.

Protection of a silent drumbeat;

Memory of love.

Now there is only

Crowded rooms full of laughing faces

Turned to her direction:

Sticking fingers in the pain,

Making the tear greater.

Father now

The end in sight;

Home.

Solace at last.

Loving arms that keep the

Wolves at bay:

Respite and enough.

Penelope

In his story

I am a shadow;

Anchored in his boat

Tethered to his song.

A respectable beast decorated

To show

His splendor.

I remained

Steadfast in my role and honoured

The name

And promise.

Gave his children life,

Place,

Love.

Endured violence

Guile , flattery and flirting

And stayed true.

And then

He returns.

And I find my place on the mantle.

Wisdom

 Moving beyond

The now.

Trusting the future enough to

Forgive mistakes.

Support

The journey

And arrive

Home.

Touch

Warm hand on soft skin

Is all lost?

Heart ;

Cacophony within the chest.

The lungs struggle to catch up

Foreign matter on a distant shore

Yearning for more.

One more

And I will explode.

Stages of Love

Turned away at the door

He was unavailable.

She knew her cue

Exit stage right

Disappear into the wings.

Love was only in Act One

Perhaps she had created the subtext of love.

Exeunt, Finis.

With the child within

She would play the role: the Lady of Shallot

Ophelia,  Antigone

The Final Act

Of a tragedy.

Fortune Teller

She had spoken before I started to listen.

Her eyes held me with their direct gaze.

She told me what I wanted to hear.

“It’s true:

He loves you.”

But she cautioned,

“Don’t work so hard.

Take time for yourself.”

Strange that stranger’s words

Would move me so.

“You have a good heart.”

A parting posey and a secret message.

The meeting is a memory.

With a lingering impression

And the smell of heather.

Hope

Learn the wisdom of the ivy

And grow

Beyond here

Ground yourself and

Aspire to the heavens

Greg

Your laugh was infectious

With you I felt alive

My secret brother

Chestnuts would cower in fear.

A youthful connection

To an invisible ink.

An exploration to the outer galaxy

Seeking life’s answers

You made me feel

Alive.

 

 

Strain

Insufficient funds

Past due

Performance review

Investigation.

Late nights

Another woman.

Car repair

Heating bill

One more can in the cupboard.

Lost mittens and ripped snow pants.

A lump.