Bloom

She touched the Earth

soil crowding beneath her nails

joints folding softly into grass

and became wild.

She touched it all

flowers and herbs on her skin

hard blossoms and itchy blades

and became someone.

    She could be in this garden forever

    suspended in a sunbeam

    two guitars and a thousand voices

    the wind, the leaves, your words.

    She could sit perhaps a bit nearer

    watch your bearded face smile

    feeling like it was another hot sun

    reflecting on flushed cheeks.

She touched lips to her arms 

listening to the clouds join such chorus

whispering to the blue between

and became present.

She touched body to Earth, 

felt it undulating beneath her nails,

it crowded into her spirit, too.

And she became.

If You Forget Me/If I May Re-Imagine the Discovery of Fire

Inspired by Pablo Neruda's "If You Forget Me"

If I May Re-Imagine the Discovery of Fire

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
If I were to slowly
take in
the softly settling moon, the one leaf
that lights in autumn evenings, at my window
if I touch
these fondly worn sweaters
smelling of cedar in the chest
everything carries me to you
aromas, light, movements
were little boats
that sail
towards these isles of yours that knew me well.

Well, here
If little by little we stop reverberating
I will (as you may have) cease to remember.

If finally
you have forgotten
do not look for me
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it silly and mad
these flailing arms of mine
that keep myself from sinking
and you deceive
to leave me just out of reach of your shores
my heart of hearts where I have far-reaching roots
remember
that on that day
at that hour
I shall lift up my arms
and my sinking heart will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day
each hour
you feel that we are destined
with implacable tastes
(even to the most flawless palette)
if each day a scene
climbs to that window in your spirit to seek
me
ah, my lover, ah my stranger
in me all that senseless fire is true,
Although I wail, why oh why
in me is nothing extinguished
I know we, as humans, delight
on these feelings
but as long as we breathe it will be
living in your arms
without leaving mine.

43° N 70° W

Fragile, virginal and pink
a line in this horizon
slowly appearing
over rushing sage waters.

A handful of dewey leaves
and planks of porch-front
quietly brightening
in spaces between slow breathing.

Lobster boats now visible
drifting beyond shadowed trees
orange and indigo blossom
wild in such tender skies.

Sage alights with blues
a bursting of light discovering
dew drops, foghorns, buoys, loons
born from a darkened pausing.

Ocean Reveries I

Like the way sea-dried lips
rumbling bellies and
salted, darkened skin
ache--for the mere promise  of
a peanut butter sandwich
a distinctly borrowed book
and knit sweater--
I ache happily, longingly
for the mere promise of
your company.

Like the way ocean waves
unconsciously collapse
upon one another and
fold--without any pretense
pulled with the indiscriminate strength
only a force like the moon
could muster--
I fold comfortably, eternally
for the mere promise of
your embrace.

Diamonds

Where have you gone?

Here, try this

and you tilted the whisk

so that my palm would cover 

the tightly wrapped wire handle.

The batter bubbled

and dry ingredients absorbed

so that the milk disappeared--

I smiled, up at your beaming face.

Where have you gone?

Here, I'm here

and I had cried out in the night

so restless, falling through dreams 

you sat beside me. 

The following nights 

and hospital beds I occupied

so close you were, I knew

I couldn't fall even if I tried.

Where have you gone?

Here, is this it

and curiously turning over love notes 

so gentle, tears slipped beneath my lids

I noticed them sliding from your own.

It's okay to love him now

and I don't think you can help it

so some people come and go

but this will be yours to hold.

Where have you gone?

Here, you returned

and after months, you're unrecognizable

so malice was laced in every word

boredom etched on your face.

Did we break you

Needing so much, leaving you dry

depression, guilt, and anger

a combined effort, and you shattered.

Where have you gone?