Vibrant

I am vibrant today,

wilted and fading fast—

in pieces,

jaunting,

Blue around the edges

still Red at my core,

the two

probing

then warring,

blasting

into melting

with each other,

but I am brightly falling,

I am failing

and filling with

salty washes

of the creeping,

smoking

changes—

transformation,

metamorphosis.

All those pretty words

that aren’t so

elegant

in practice.

that is what I am—

drowning in the mixture.

(written Nov. 14, 2009)

*I wrote this in a workshop at the Writing Eastern Kentucky Conference with one of my professors, Mr. Eklund. He had us look at paintings and write what they made us feel or the story we felt they were telling. This was written from an abstract painting that I wish I could find to post with it.*

Reincarnation

what is your maker?

the egg that hatched your nature

or the lives that influence your lessons,

from past plagues, murders, and

maybe affairs—

did you come from

states miles away

or some country centuries past

            have parts of us met,

            you as my teacher

            or me as your mother, enemy, or—

did all of you start

in that womb

with the portions of the two,

at the same time my two favorite lovers

started me

so that we, strangers, could grow separately into

what we have become

and are waiting to be,

for ourselves,

and possibly each other.

(original draft written Dec. 2,  2009

this revised draft from Feb. 24,  2010)

This circle outlined in unmatching and broken stones,
filled in with grass
and rusty chains, rubber, rings, and a steep metal decline.
This hill
backed by branches
and comforted with bulbs of heavier greens.
That wooden crumbling,
peeling and beautiful,
the landmark of innocence
and playing pretend-
Of a hand's skills and father's hugs
Lost
in one day.
This patch of ever expanding bamboo shoots.
This mattress of dirt and fern.
This spattering of planted scarlet memories.
A keeper of childhood.
the Only place that makes my chest echo with the sound 
of a past now unattainable,
of Home.


(written November 14, 2009)