I.
The sky is a glass
Of mourning blackbirds
I stand rooted, a weeping willow
At the crossroad
II.
A sign
Falls flat on grass
Knocked down by errant wind-
This ceased to be a cross-
road
III.
Two sisters stood at the crossroad
One chose the sun, west of the forest
The other chose the moon, east of the river
When they met again after a year,
Their faces were maps
Their hands were cups
Hued of their journeys
IV.
At midnight
Your reckless heart rips away
The bandages
And follow the unmarked road
V.
From the distance
A crossroad
Strikes a shiver of excitement
Like choosing an ice cream flavor & toppings-
VI.
He walks with me
And the crossroad turns into
A boat ride in the canal
VII.
At the crossroad
I felt every pebble, gravel & slab
beneath my feet
VIII.
Death arrived
At this crossroad
Early Sunday morning
IX.
When she gave an ultimatum -
The crossroad
Became a street marked with dynamites
X.
Your face is
A book
Stamped with crossroads
I have yet to figure out
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics - Fated, hosted by Merril Smith. Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.
I love this ten ways version with crossroads, Grace!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, all of them giving a perfect part to go with in the antology... and of course I love the blackbird in the first poem.
ReplyDeleteEach stanza is perfect in itself. Together, they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love the way the individual stanzas are like individual gems gathered together in a necklace, from the sky, ‘a glass of mourning blackbirds’ to the sisters whose ‘faces were maps’ and ‘hands were cups’, and the crossroad where one can feel every pebble, gravel & slab’ to a face which is a ‘book stamped with crossroads’ yet to be figured out.
ReplyDeleteThe third look at the crossword was very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done, Grace. I really liked the last verse!
ReplyDeleteI found each of the ten ways fascinating. The second sent a chill, thinking that with the sign blown down, a horrible accident might happen at the intersection. Well done, Grace!!!!
ReplyDeleteYe gods.....this is you at your best...loved the narrative style, mood, setting, and then everything got deeper, netter and better, more and more clever...and as in all great tales, you slipped things in bit by bit. Yes, an all-time favourite for me....everything clicked, and the use of a crossroads magical...metaphysical, but gritty, real.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea and you've executed it perfectly.👏
ReplyDeleteAwesome poem, Grace! You should submit this for the dVerse anthology: https://dversepoets.com/coming-soon-2026-anthology/.
ReplyDeleteYvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Every stanza of this is a gem, Grace!
ReplyDeleteone of my all-time favorites of yours ~
ReplyDeleteThis is so good, Grace. Each stanza more beautiful than the other. Such beauty, wisdom and mysticism in each verse.
ReplyDelete