Pink Oleander

He came for her.

He returned and they were a perfect pair

of the birds she watched all those years

as if she knew that her tired arms might take their wings

and her last breath, expelled from life

might join the wind and give rise to her first flight

reunited with the soul that returned for her

to once again soar behind her beautiful soul.

The beat of their wings greatened the air

until it gathered the oleander’s pink and fragrance

to wash through me and surround me

with their osprey’s laughter at freedom and joy, joy, joy.

27 April 2008

Sanctuary of Gladys

Biscuits with butter and honey

Long walks for careful talks

Canasta and Gladiolas

A cool and giant leather chair

A half-house with steep stairs that lead to peaceful, safe sleep

A conservatory of sweetness, strength, humor and laughter in the face of consistent pain

Softly fragranced, southern childhood days called forth with joy to light the chisel-sharp cruelty of northern poverty, family, and longevity

A stranger to monotony

A speaker to children

A full-bosomed mother to every wounded, tired and confused little soul

I cannot remember her ever asking for any thing, large or small.  

Not a cup of tea or a brick of gold.

16 February 2009

Etudes in Female Sharp

These women are every form of miracle in my life. They bestowed on me miracles of love, healing, and care. They performed exquisite miracles of pain and enduring destruction. From some of them, I learned to learn. From all of them, I chose to learn.

These entries are dedicated to the three women of my immediate family, who may find themselves conspicuous by their absence. You are absent from print only. You are present in every physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual fiber of every page. I forgive you for the many acute and relentless injuries you heaped upon my little soul, and hope you forgive my acts of defense and revenge. I thank you for every moment of joy and laughter we were able to create between the rocks. I love you for gifting me with the persistent resistance that molded me into the woman I have been, am and will be.