Grandmother

90

the number stretches farther than you know.

zero yawns heavily

ready to eat her up.

her voice hits me like the past--

smells like ivory soap hung round the garden

keep the deer away.

if you are here then I am here and we are safe together.

 ah, grandmother, there was a time

when you and I were secret conspirers--

yellow beads rolled ‘neath my fingers and 

i can touch your face.

you cannot see me. I am wearing an African tribal war mask.

why raisin-fingers?

because they have soaked in the soup of time.

stop because

wrinkles are beautiful.

old is beautiful.

small is beautiful.

we can’t all be giants.

do not think that I discount you.

I did when I had scoffing to spare

and now I have none left but only

hungry ears.

hungry ears match easy tears and we are together once more. 

Wall

Falling in love is like

tumbling

head first

into a

wall.

You know it will hurt.

Crack your head open perhaps.

Your brains spilling into the carpet
                                rendering you
                                        senseless and incapable of decision making.
When the dust clears
the rubble crumbles away
you might discover

a pathway. Hidden by the wall no longer.

The path leads somewhere only you and he can go.
Take that path.
It's worth it.
All.

Boulder

Backed towards me

Sits as if she is a boulder

Dropped from on high onto the sofa cushion

The impact leaves her stunned

The impression is too deep

She might never roll out of the hole she has created.

Her breathing is slight as she

Sits, stares, silently inhales

Little rhythmic up and downs

Pulse steadily as a heart-beat and

Tell me she is alive but I am

Not sure how alive is alive.

She fills the room with the weight

That rests heavily on her shoulders

And I want to unburden her.

Shrug it off! Give me a chunk!

But dazedly she stares heavy into the world

And I go on, fearing I have lost her.