There is a chasm where the echoes of you resonate
Memories vibrate, resounding up through the depths
Humming, strumming my heart
Orchestrating haunting internal melodies
Sentimental serenades bereft of lyrics
Frequently, the songs are as tender as a lullaby
Tranquil, faint, soothing as a purr
Intimate whispers shadow my perceptions
A fleeting smile or tear offers a glimpse into the hymns
From time to time, the reverberations are flagrant, flamboyant
Visceral concertos of cacophony
The interludes intrude and occlude
Boisterous crescendos, their clamors are deafening
Outwardly silent, inwardly surging, I await their conclusion
Most often, the intrinsic music is my resident accompaniment
Instrumental ballads proclaiming, portraying a bygone life
An opus of a lover pining for an encore
The unfinished symphony plays on beyond the curtain call
I am a woman of many faces:
Mother, Daughter
Friend, Sister
Widow, Writer
Survivor
My roles define the façade you see
I conform to your reality
Never unveiling my complete identity
I parcel out my character
Offering tidbits to delight, entice
The designated consumer
Your view is obscured
Tainted, tinted, rendered incomplete
By your imagined image
Will you dare — Do you care
To shine a light on my persona
Shapeshifting like a kaleidoscope
A psychedelic palette freckled with crystal and coal
Charming and disturbing
My colors twist and turn
Once there was one who embraced my entirety
Who gazed pierced my mosaic individuality
And did not turn away
Iridescent, my soul shone for him
Enraptured, my soul captivated him
Unfiltered, I was known
What is the face you perceive
Will you — Can you — comprehend my totality
Or are you limited by necessity
Do you see
Me?
Fear seeps trepidation creeps
Through my bones
Chilled from within
Cold-blooded — numb
Internally, eternally(?) frozen
The calendar marks the seasons
But the climate remains the same
A year of upheaval, uproar
Uncertainty, insecurity
Pandemonium
Distrust, mistrust of each other
Of ourselves
Clamor, Anarchy
Outbreak, Outcry for
Restraint, Relief
Rescue
Rising Spring
At long last
Faith warms dawn transforms
A hibernating heart
Awakened — free
Inwardly, outwardly joyful
Liberated from its stalemate
The break of day kindles spirits
Fair weathers’ watch resets, renews
Expectations, anticipation
Tranquility
Potential, promise for us
For humanity
Comradery, Community
Release, Revelry for
Healing, Harmony
Hope
*Poet’s Note: One of the first blooms of Spring, the crocus is often viewed as a symbol of rebirth, renewal, and hope.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways I love thee, to the depth and breadth and height My arms can reach, when Joe-Joe’s are in sight To the ends of earth, I’ll sing your praise
From organic ground beef to mayonnaise Carnivore to vegan, you’re a delight The most super of markets, you’ll incite chaos when out of two-buck chardonnays
Syrah-Soaked Tuscan, Chianti Salami Marcona Almonds, Raisin Rosemary Crisps Fig Butter, Blue Cheese Olives, and Truffle Dip You’re my go-to monger for charcuterie
Plump grapes, dried apricots, Triple Cream Brie Greater provisions than a cargo ship With some epicurean showmanship My hors d’oeuvres boards become Insta-worthy
Your zesty spices are pantry staples E’eryday Season, 21 Salute Umami Blend trends, but there’s no dispute The rule of Everything but the Bagel
When prepping to set the holiday table Pumpkin to peppermint, nary time to loot Cranberry tartes, Turkey & Stuffing en croute Advent Calendars and butter with maple
But the main object of this shopper’s affection Is the grand assortment of Trader confections:
Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, cakes with molten lava Mochi, Hold the Cone, and ice cream laced with java Triple Ginger Snaps, Dunkers — Chocolate Chip Sea Salt Caramels, Mallows drenched in mint
One last confession: Your congenial crew — The courteous team of laid-back extroverts Decked out in broad smiles and bright Hawaiian shirts — Is my sultry culinary rendezvous
And so, Joseph, my merchant beau, should the grocer gods choose I shall love thee until my credit you refuse
Your devoted patron, Lisa
*P.S. My sincerest gratitude (and apologies) to Elizabeth Barrett Browning for her poetic inspiration
Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words. — Robert Frost
Tormented by prose, there is no repose until composed Stowaway brainchildren shoplifting daydreams pilfering notions and whims Tinkering with mental trinkets to keep themselves amused
Desperation demands, commands purging the pangs fermenting my soul Bloodthirsty, I breach, leach the clamors tearing my heart asunder
Revelations outcry, testify so that I may be shanghaied from my purgatory
Visceral scripts cast off clouds of gloom until there is no longer any room for agony or anger Allowing me to breathe, bathe under sun-soaked lapis skies where tears have ceased to linger
And sometimes — in due time I bide my time while inspirations ignite and speculations spark lighting fire to introspection
Librettos written Choral hymns sung Declaring sacred secrets and contemptuous contemplations
Harmonious musings Discordant discourse Communally coexist Live together Lie together Symbiotic scribbles Sprawled, scrawled Laid down on the page Relinquished to the reader for final judgment
Tears welling in azure eyes you recited your amorous soliloquy I bathed in the water of your emotion permitted myself to rest to be soothed
At long last be content
You proclaimed my imperfections endearing My scars — badges of honor You aspired to be my person To travel — to battle — alongside
But when the veil of infatuation lifted and love’s bounty could truly be discovered You cowered — deserted too feeble to exert the effort
Starstruck by serendipity I had envisioned the beauty in our future Surmounting struggles a path to strengthen our union
Did you not trust our relationship to withstand? Or did you simply become apathetic? At what point did admiration fall to disregard?
I showered you with tokens of affection My first now my last poetic declaration
You sang my praises Lulled me with sweet nothings And I the enchanted fool was enthralled by your music
Captivated by your siren’s song I lowered my shields Allowed you to see the wounds residing in my soul’s abyss immersed for a decade concealed from view by warrior’s armor
When did our treasure begin to tarnish? Why carelessly lay waste my self-respect? Or are you oblivious to your actions’ aftermath?
Masquerading as my beloved you celebrated with my family Camouflaging your discontent with flattery and lies
Buoyed by false affirmation I sailed hope’s waters Swept up on a promise A doomed flight of fancy
Was I always your dirty little secret? You couldn’t admit even to yourself?
Once again battered and broken submerged by my own tears The suffocating weight plummets me shipwrecked into the deep
Big Girl Panties 