Friday, November 10, 2017

tower

brick
by brick
by brick
by brick

I built it     I walled it away.
The wall gave way to tower
high and strong
devoid of window and door
inside

my heart.

Safe from all who would do it harm
safe from anyone
even myself

I thought it impenetrable
even to myself
for I was the grand mason
the architect of its design

little by little
then all at once
it was gone
not a stone to be seen

my heart soared into the sunlight
filled with light and warmth
bathed in a golden light

you got in
you broke it down
you let it out

afraid I am not


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

When

Why is life so scary at times? 
When did I become someone who was afraid of being alone? 
I look at myself and I don't recognize the person
I spent so much time
energy 
crafting bit by bit
allowing pain and fear to help shape me
taking those moments 
getting to the heart of myself
the root of who I am
who I want to be
making myself strong
determined
When did I settle for letting someone else
someone else determine my happiness?
I was in charge of that.
I bought the flowers.
I played the music. 
I cooked the food. 
I slept on the nice sheets.

I need to get back to that
not exactly that.
but some 
newer
better version 
of that.


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Don't speak.

Alone in a crowd.
Disconnected from the family around me.
Closed off.
Curled up. 
Smile and they won't know something's wrong.
Afraid.
Confused. 
Self doubt.
Unsure.
Would it matter if I wasn't here?
Did they miss me?
Are my contributions enough?
Am I enough?
A war inside me.
Speak.
Don't speak.
Tell them.
You're problems aren't as big as some of theirs. Yours don't matter.
Don't share.
Don't draw attention. 
Don't speak.
Sit quietly.
Listen.
Another war begins.
A war in my mind.
In my heart.
Focus on one.
But which is more important?
Don't look. It's written on your face.
Don't speak. 

Friday, April 10, 2015

It Occurs To Me I Am The Creative/Destructive Goddess Coatlicue a poem by Sandra Cisneros

I deserve stones.
Better leave me the hell alone.

I am besieged.
I cannot feed you. 
You may not souvenir my bones,
knock on my door, camp, come in,
telephone, take my Polaroid. I'm paranoid,
I tell you. Lárguense. Scram.
Go home.

I am anomaly. Rare she who
cant stand kinds and can't stand you.
No excellent Cordelia cordiality have I.
No coffee served in tidy cups.
No groceries in the house.

I sleep to excess,
smoke cigars,
drink. Am at my best
wandering undressed,
my fingernails dirty,
my hair a mess.
Terribly

sorry, Madame isn't 
feeling well today.
Must

Greta Garbo.
Pull an Emily D.
Roil like Jean Rhys.
Abiquiu myself. 
Throw a Maria Callas. 
Shut myself like a shoe. 

Stand back. Christ
almighty. I'm warning. 
Do not. Keep
out. Beware. 
Help! Honey,
this means 
you.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

3/9

I feel like I am drifting
Like nothing I do is effective
Like everything is slipping 
                                  through 
                                                 my 
                                                         fingers
through the           cracks

I feel like the rug has been pulled
out from under me
Everything is up in the air
Its all I can do to catch it all
To keep it all from smashing to the ground

Times like this
I shut down
lock down
turn down

Let it all out
Take the bolt off the emotional door
Open the flood gates
Blow the dam

[title]

The constant                brush 
of an elbow 
or a shoulder 
or a hand.

The steady              pull 
drawing together

The words of a song 
paint a picture before my eyes 
of my hearts most precious desire 

Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes...

A constant prayer on my lips

Encouraged to come clean 
         spill 
            the 
              beans
No. 
What will be           Will be
What will out

Come what may

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Midwinter day dream

Just in case you were wondering,
I had a day dream today.
I was walking through a meadow of wild flowers.
They seemed to go on forever.
A vivid sea of yellow, white, red, orange, blue, and purple.
The earth soft and warm on my bare feet.
I saw a grove of oak and aspen. 
A slight breeze caused the branches to gently sway.
The sunlight dappled the ground beneath them.
A creek babbled along happily as it fed a small pool.
Sunlight glimmered on the water and my gaze fell upon a figure laying at the edge of the pool.