worlds of words
paper walls and
illustrious words on
scratch-and-sniff pages,
wildly painting
wormholes into other
universes and twisting
fantastical towers into
origami homes.
ivy-grown dragons
and mismatched lovers,
both known and unknown,
loping through restless
nights and lamplight
armchairs and long
plane rides.
tokens of travel and
trophies of our own
unbridled intelligence.
worn, ingrained,
essential essences to
our bursting souls:
to read and also,
to be read again.
Hi how you doin’?
There's a siren
roaring in the
dimly lit heart
of the cold dark,
and in the morning
without a warning
the lovely tulip buds
by the flaking white
partial picket fence
are uncomfortably
pressed by a tall
imbalanced tower
of odds and ends
hurried to the curb,
hardly resembling
the ensemble of Life
that once was, busied,
behind closed curtains
where nice neighbors
didn't see it, all smiling
blindly and so politely
just the days before,
in name of brotherly
ever-loving-pro-gress
the now up 'n coming
East side would take
another L, for Today,
tacked upon the storm
fiberglass screen door
of seemingly Middle
class Threshold was
another very important
Public Notice with its
blood warming advert:
Occupants Evicted---
---By Order of Police.
03.11.2023
Clash of Culture challenge @markysparky
The Demonstration
You've been to every tearoom,
you've dragged her out on the square...
Her cheeks are red as a rag-doll;
still blind you head for the glare
of bright lights, famine, and handshakes...
Your quick to pass her around...
She's dipped in shadows for seconds,
before she kisses the ground...
I keep my love out in the cold...
So discreet, underneath a stone...
I keep my love beyond where they will go...
I keep my love out in the rain...
You run 'round smashing windowpanes...
I keep my love tucked down beneath the loam...
There's not one face you would cling to...
You're always out on the run...
She's taught performance on impulse;
while you keep drawing the gun
on any flesh that you fancy...
A pliant and yielding array...
She's only mingled confections
to sample 'fore you'd amscray...
I keep my love out in the cold...
So discreet, underneath a stone...
I keep my love beyond where they will go...
I keep my love out in the rain...
You run 'round smashing windowpanes...
I keep my love tucked down beneath the loam...
©
12/18/21
Bunny Villaire
Meditation
I hear the whispers from the sky
spores floating on winds of change
hems of oceans unraveled in foam
silver sprinkle of murmured breezes
I hear the whispers from the sky
gentle sweetness on lips like wine
peaceful silver waves in aqua sea
gulls swooping low to catch reflections
I hear the whispers from the sky
A thousand moons slipping into dawn
echoed seaweed strewn on carpeted sand
unhealed wounds washed clean by tides.
schism
i emptied myself,
overwhelmed,
against my will
until,
i saw
the indescribable beauty,
of a pristine lake
take
my soul captive
to,
without fail,
capable still
to mesmerize
by majestic mountains
risen far beyond
horizon’s green,
of every hue
surrounding,
my hypnotized view
of this short lived scene
i wept inside,
at the thought,
of being here,
imprisoned,
unable to partake,
unable to,
but merely touch,
with my eye
reticent to wake,
much less able,
to keep,
even ’til forever,
of course,
due to,
ungodly stress
i am not even near,
being,
a being of forever
though,
i know,
some outcomes,
yield fear,
of a certainty
barging in
mixed with
a tantalizing brief,
spindly glimpse,
of utter beauty
unable to quench that,
utter torture
for in the mornings’ morrow,
i shall have to release,
what little of this,
mingled with much sorrow
for even the memory
of what i have
come to understand
will be shattered,
with the realization,
of the vanity,
to even think
that i should ever
even hope to keep,
and lose it all
in a sleep
forced to wake
to what is truth,
while i see
black vultures,
surrounding,
the decomposing carcass,
of a downed elephant
once majestic,
alive,
benevolent beast,
awesome creature
its tusks missing,
rotting,
in the african savanah
disturbing,
the swarms of morbid,
wild flies
feasting on death,
does impinge,
impales my wish,
for utter peace
Save Me
I am submerged
below my flood of tears.
Can’t gaze
through murky vision.
My arms flail
trying to swim
through emotions
impeding my struggle.
I am drowning
I grit my teeth
to stay the flood
from sobs flowing
through my soul.
Perpetual grief
adding to my misery.
My despair darkens
like sky’s sorrow.
Fissures weep
spitting blood of angst.
Chaos speaks
through thunder’s hammer
and lightning’s smite
Please, lend me
your heart
to float on before
deep watered threat
conquers
and takes me under.
Expel my torrents
from body and breath
before I gulp
the cascading torment
and nothing remains
but muck and sludge.
Quench my need
engulf me
immerse me
inundate me
wrap me
in your warmth
quell my pain.
little things are big things
my brain bounces
on
off
and contemplates
the little things
your hand
mine
I wonder if I would feel something
deep down in this cursed heart of mine
or if it would be terror and nothing else
for the thing I fear is touch.
these hands weren’t made for holding
i know it
because of the disgust in your eyes
the surprise you try to hide
the shame behind my lies
does not disguise
my hand
yours
just too close
shocking
and unnatural
Speak
We stand in a sea of voices
--pushing, pulling, persuading--
the never-ending, flooding sounds
of a million opinions.
In the midst of so many,
I want to find the right words,
I want to be elegantly polite and
poetic and supportive and sincere.
But no matter the number of drafts,
I can't escape the truth.
To say something, you have to speak.
No matter the size of the sea,
or the direction of the current,
or the scent of the storm on the horizon:
Sail.
Shout the to the rainclouds and
sing your truth to the sky.
I don't have the perfect words,
but I have my own truth.
I won't stay silent.
Injustice is wrong.
Racism is wrong.
Hate is wrong.
The waters are rough here,
but maybe the sounds of our voices
--all of us--
can change the tide.