green green grass of home (a remembrance)

 

her eyes are cloudy grey

her body 

pinked by sugar & vermillion summers 

slumps to searing pain

the sadness

from missing his presence for the last year, 

hurt her deeply

(soon)

she'll hear swooning music

of his laughter

impersonating TomJones luscious baritone 

rising

calling

Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Quadrille, with host Linda Lyberg.  This is a 44 word post with the chosen word, Music.  Rest in Peace to my aunt (and uncle), whose favorite singer was Tom Jones.  Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.  

the stigmata of waiting

i sit where i have been
sitting for the last 2 weeks

in the ICU
visitor's chair, a hard & unyielding stone

you are on the hospital bed
pricked, tubes on your veins, only your lips
are silently moving in prayer

a nurse breezes in, with pills & monitor 
& I lift my head to see
if some flicking light has changed your eyes
or your limbs moved /heartbeat/

but you are so still
broken doll
as if all the words & winds in your lungs have left
as if your spine is soft clay
as your pale hands clutches a rosary
& gold banner of faith, a gift from a friend  

a reminder that the sun is pelting sunshine
outside of this curtained sterile room
i keep watch
... of nothing really ...
just keeping time until our mom comes back
from the bank & grocery shopping  

i eat 
my doubts inwardly
because I know you have been weeping
& ranting about the last month of your confinement

there is heavy sound
at the pit of my belly, wailing
of anguish, crying of missed diagnoses,
seeds of hopelessness grow despite my words

of encouragement to you
we both know that every day is folding fast
into shadows, frightening to utter:
road of no return
i pray for mercy
unthinkable ending & begin-
ning, in whatever form this may be

(i am sorry
i have to leave soon)

mom arrives, carrying 
your pain & sacrifices
so proudly, she is light you turn to
every time death 
checks in at night



February 2018.   This poem has been in my draft but I finally finished and published this for our 8th anniversary celebration.  A sad story but after 1 month of my sister's death in April, my first grandson was born.  Life goes on.


Posted for dVerse Poetics, 8th anniversary celebration with our special guest host, Brian Miller at 3pm EST.   He tells us to capture a moment in our verse.   

Happy anniversary!!!  Thank you for your visit and comments.

The view beyond my sister's room

My body stretching like a tear

along the paper*

Static
   that second night 
   of mourning
My hands caught air
of your fragrance, 
   bamboo, eucalyptus,  
   aloe vera

My mom dragged her feet 
   in slow circles
while my brother silently grieved - 
   he's a wounded sparrow -

Outside the window,
  the bird's nest, a music of hungry
        cries & squeals
  the busy cars honking 
        thirsty for summer rain

The wind turned,
dripping of sun's tears-
        the sky, blue-matted 
                        blanket, times
        another season
                        knitted new
        canvas, bright orange

My eldest placed his new born
child into my arms
       He, feather-light
       Weighs our universe 

They brought him and autumn   

rushed in, tossed its cape of starlings,   

tattered the frost-spackled field.**

* First lines, from Louise Gluck, The Egg
**Ending lines, from The Corn Baby by Mark Wunderlich


Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight.  Pub doors open at 3pm EST.  
I missed out on some poetry prompts during my break.   For this poem, I used this one from Amaya's prompt, Bridging the Gap, where I am to use two quotes, one for the opening, and another for the ending, with the poet building the lines in the middle.

may you see field of tulips on your journey

as lone sunflower
falls 

i inhale incense
as sky scoops back predicted 

rain, surging life, silk-spun fragile 
as budding white tulip

you're not storm
chaser, but peacemaker

staying close
to family's roots, tilling 

zen-inspired garden,
beading memoirs-

and now, pilgrim's traveller
on journey 

home 

Family Photo by Grace @Everyday Amazing

Posted for dVerse Poets Pub, Quadrille, hosted by Kim Russell.   This is a 44 word post with the chosen word "rain".   This photo is from the funeral of my sister 2 weeks ago and I can finally talk about it as a means of healing & moving on.   Thanks for your visit.