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Michele Shaw


Puzzles

it’s sounds not understood, wobbly to the ear
slowly piecing, unraveling, touching corners until they align
we work, slave to make just one click, grabbing  in glee when it locks with ease

it’s smiles requiring no explanation
love emanating from creased eyes filled with laughter
speaking in beats to a united rhythm 

it’s bits of aha and scraps of confusion 
yet we try and try and try
pressing each groove into its home

it’s the snap of that fit
when sometimes syllables align
followed by the ghost of a gentle caress

it’s magnets, collecting presents and trailing seas of hope
they will bind us even if the rest remains
unspoken

Liquid

it’s a dream in liquid chaos
slippery
and delightful
and off balance
and filling
that shiny bubble
nesting in a burnt haystack
glinting a flash
I only half believe
and only in silent pitch
I am drawn and drawing
it’s dawning further away
slicking my sinewed lasso
graying my grip
with doubt
lovely pain and maybes
double-knot and propel me
into should I and almosts
causing a part, a vortex, a leak
freeing a wispy drop
enough to dew my palm
enough to shake my soul
enough to keep me reaching
and kicking
and swimming
in a dream of liquid chaos

Drift

you’re a thousand little pieces
I only asked for one
a speck for my pocket
the sun hidden in my hand

but each day another piece disappears
evaporates before my eyes
cell by cell, I see it
I blink and lose more

it is slow torture of the worst kind
the silence so deep
and sharp
and unbearable
I’m helpless and inadequate

the weight of my pocket
nearly topples me
as I flip it inside out
knowing its emptiness pulls me down

futile grabs choke my strength
they siphon my love
they leave me breathless
watching the last bits of you

drift

Trekking

Toe and heel printed
Cyclical journey
Grainy sorrows
Carried on tides
Rough hewn planks
Paced horizontal
Splintered hours
Seeking their guides
Troughs through marram grass
Rutted deep
Stuttered steps
Where the truth divides

Repeater

it happens

glass shatters, scatters me
i quiver in shards
Pavlovian cocktail and adrenal fumes
merge in vibration

an addict’s pulse; you know the one
my reaction chained
waves hit leafing veined pangs
ruminating neon burns
scorched in twitch-fisted stitch

try to stop, click-clocks

breath deep and slow and slip
mute repeating pollution
part the tide of gauze
curse blue weakness

wake the dead

for unknown collected seconds
sweet rock-jumps in freedom
half embraced when air splits
as again the glass

shatters

The Story of E

he arrived with a curious brow

mop of raven’s wing hair
windows thrown full

taste testing the world

he held close
rumbled metal
stuttered paths
questioned how to

he explored
learned the root of pi and evil
met the ghost of himself
looked over shoulder when I called

he embraced the air
puzzled our puzzle
collected deepest veined leaves
shared the keys

he multiplied over me
unraveled the stars
discovered the cog in time
invented love

he is everything

my boy

Ode to a Poet

his words I drink in breaths designed to savor
tight-lettered weave with inky needle sewn
a cocktail touching soul with deepest flavor

sound chimes in burning tides that fail to waver
each thought a step to next a season grown
his words I drink in breaths designed to savor

an image burnt in time, rebirth engraver
rolls from his tongue in whispers seldom known
a cocktail touching soul with deepest flavor

mixed beats that blend harmonious don’t quaver
they seep upon voiced fingers merged in bone
his words I drink in breaths designed to savor

in golden tones of honeyed dreams I favor
and tender sighs caressed through lines on loan
a cocktail touching soul with deepest flavor

verse suckled catalysts an endless craver
to wing in sky from worries never flown
his words I drink in breaths designed to savor
a cocktail touching soul with deepest flavor
​
Picture


​Michele Shaw's Profile

Strong

he stands in shredded forests
the flap of wings merging into grit-filled winds
black funnel clouds, gathering useless against iron love
beaks barb and jab, live arrows, yet not piercing

invincible, is he, or invisible

shrouded by a promise
hurts stealth as sand seek to invade

grains tailgating unseen, burrowing

rubbing midst the hope of unwatched cracks and forgotten fissures
common pests romping at will, delight at open veins

only to travel false paths

unable to breach steel
of father, protector, champion

Blow

i’m held in your hand

tightly

winds swirl, ripples swell
minutes tick
time evaporates in a breath

lightly

grass sways, sky grays
burning wick

you only want pieces of my

soul

cracked limbs, crushed leaves
none taken
use up what serves your purpose
whole
spiral clouds, laddered rays
i’m forsaken

shriveling more each day

aching

frozen flower, midnight shower
silent mourn
all a twisted game

shaking

blackened rainbow with no end
spirit torn

running to exhaustion

only

lightning blazes, thunder cracks
hazy glow
will you release my

lonely

seeds resting on your palm

just blow

Clear

walk a tenuous rope
wearing a tenuous robe
search the frayed threads
scour
 
an echo of light
breaks thatched patterns
steel-spined ghosts hum
calling
 
it is you
waiting to find
waiting to be found
it is me
 
it is all breaths, all beings
gathering, losing color
tying knots
which scatter, yet hold
 
we are souls of a soul
banded and bonded umbilic
we are one
 
deep
wide
clear

Jolt

alarmed by the charmed
carry me away
kicking and biting
kissing and biting

grabbed by the ventricular
vernacular
caught by the shorn hem
spun in syllables

coaxed through the dutch door
flung to the always more

oh, so alarmed by the charmed

Broken Bloom

bulbs
blinding
hollow victory
hiding
a tarnished trophy
 
charred
wilting
bleeding  toxic sun
walking
the  blackest carpet
 
crushed
snapping
clean shot at the brain
stemming
to deepest marrow
 
limp
hanging
nectarless, shriveled
burying
the first  broken bloom

Cherished

For Marjorie...I miss you so

Bask afternoon with sun and swing.
New stories rocking with delight;
old stories fly a grand life kite.

She bowed and beamed in ageless spring;
eyes gleaming blue, milk dreaming dew
of days rocked by in knotted string

and wisdom shared in dying light.
Bask afternoon in sun we sing.
​

Skim

A water walk in moonlit mist began,
her nightdress floating sheer against damp moss.
The search for whispered lovers crossed the span
with stardust moted air bespeaking loss.

One whistled sigh departed with regret;
familiar strangeness overtaking all,
as echoes high pulled currents to beget
wet anklets weaving closer to her fall.

Her steps did quicken, waving tides behind.
Ached yearning grabbed at birdsong to correct
increasing beats amongst the closing bind;
dewed fairies pleaded turning to protect.

Her capture through dank seaweed did supply
his wanted prize, another sweetheart’s cry.


                   ❦

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