Michele Shaw
Puzzlesit’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 Liquidit’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 |
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. ❦ |