The Deep End

Deep below the surface
unseen power awaits
her arrival

an unfettered self
dives first plunging
fingertips beneath

glassy cold currents
washing upwards covering
warm skin

embracing elbows
clenched biceps
parting for closed eyes

Blackened visions encircle
slipping a whole being
underwater

Flailing limbs
burning lungs overflowing
overcome
with fear

searing agony biting
threads of flesh within
fizzling flames until
hope arrives

Buoyantly dancing
interlacing fingers
opening eyes
to a floating
embrace

Healing Waters

seeking cleansing
for
a truer
joyful
self

she visited
the hill

hearing
that
a chance existed
to
find tenderness
and heal

the hole
that bore
deeply
into her being

she dropped
to her knees
despairing to find

only after
dipping into the

waters

following the
moistening of lips

no truth
behind the promise
little hope
for a cleansed spirit

only stagnant water

and
a poisoned well

Clean Slate

Bleary eyed walking
stumbling over stones
toes wet with dew

downward focus
precarious footholds
slippping
muddied

new ground
running water
cuts the path

knocked down
floating
riding
currents

clear, strong
quenching
parched lips
seeping in
drenching
drowning

Morning Rush

see me as I am
sitting here in torn robe
hair askew
know me as I stand
beside you on the step
chapped hands
waving as the bus
pulls them away

know that I will be
dancing my story
feet aflame
Listen to my song
set to melodious silence
cracked voice
carried away
on the wind

hear the words I send
flying on the breeze
mind a whir
recognize my dream
stirring again
warming my coffee

Haitian Mama

Sunken into the ground
ruined concrete covers
treasures,trinkets, trash
Surrounded by her belongings
Scattered fragments of
the favorite white teacup with the yellow rose
Lay beside her thigh
She cannot see
them through
imprisoning beams


Spine curved unnaturally upon itself
Bruised arms wrapped tightly
Precious cargo crushed in loving embrace
She holds on to life’s blood
Bearing her breast to infant mouth
Soothing mother and child
As they wait

Dead, Not Gone

I woke up dead this morning
yet I still had things to do
I made a pot of coffee
pancakes and eggs too.

No blood was flowing through my veins
as I put the clothes away
numbness overtook me
as I saw the break of day.

Come upon us now
the brilliant morning sun
all their footsteps down the stairs
no one noticed, not a one

Dead inside, heart closed off
every dream expired
I wiped the counter, moved the plate
and all I felt was tired.

Tired of trying to be what
I'm never meant to be
the perfect mother, wife and child
no none of them are me

So I will choose this death instead
and live my life encased
in this casket called my skin
behind this empty face.

Esmerelda's Vision

I had been having a hard time seeing what was in front of me, though the side view was crystal clear...always,and the look behind emblazoned in my mind. I gues that is what led me to give it a try. I thought I'd only do it for a few moments, just to see what if felt like, but then...it stretched into more.

Now I seem to be stuck with it, and it has created a barrier for me that feels insurmountable. How did this happen? I went from slightly blurry to completely blind. When I wake each morning, I no longer wonder if it's going to be a good day...I just wonder what time I'll be able to take my first hit.

I don't know what is coming at me. I don't care...too much. I can't see who or what is beside me anymore...I can't care. No memories remain of what has passed me by...I won't look.