I toss a prickly weed across the grass.
Dirt sinks into my fingernails,
runs itself deep between skin and keratin.
I stack memories in the hole in the ground,
lather them into the postwar cavity.
You are easy to wash away.
I dig my fingers under another thorny vine,
pull apart its roots like strands of hair.
The sky grays over my head.
November 29, 2012
November 25, 2012
"How to Listen"
I really like posting these PAD poems. This one is from Day 17.
When I was in fifth grade,
my teacher taught us to listen.
We had to hush impossibly
while she played cassettes of Maya Angelou,
Bill Cosby, even Randy Travis.
She told us to pay attention to the way they sculpted language.
It made me cry every time.
We'd watch from our seats,
carefully waiting,
and when the words tumbled out
like butterflies bursting from their cocoons
we were quiet
and we listened,
silent but restless,
fluttering our wings.
When I was in fifth grade,
my teacher taught us to listen.
We had to hush impossibly
while she played cassettes of Maya Angelou,
Bill Cosby, even Randy Travis.
She told us to pay attention to the way they sculpted language.
It made me cry every time.
We'd watch from our seats,
carefully waiting,
and when the words tumbled out
like butterflies bursting from their cocoons
we were quiet
and we listened,
silent but restless,
fluttering our wings.
November 24, 2012
The Power of Quiet
Those of you who know me well (or follow me on Twitter) know that I'm a proud introvert and, therefore, a big fan of Susan Cain, who's done probably more work than anyone else in championing the benefits of introversion. She gave a highly-celebrated TED Talk earlier this year, and her book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" (long title, I know!) has been buzzed about a lot.
The video above, which is an animation of Susan's RSA talk, is an absolute gem. (via Brain Pickings)
"The Truth About Love"
PAD Challenge Day 24.
What was it about her?
Why not the waitress at your favorite diner
or the girl you bumped into at the supermarket?
I learned early on that you crave the impossible,
but there you stood, eyes focused like a telescope,
when you turned and said to me,
She's the one.
How did you know?
Was it the way she smiled at you
on the street? Was it the way she laughed
till her eyes sparkled, like she'd never been allowed to laugh before?
Or maybe it was the way she grabbed you by the shoulders,
spun you around,
and said,
Look at me,
and for the first time, you didn't hesitate.
What was it about her?
Why not the waitress at your favorite diner
or the girl you bumped into at the supermarket?
I learned early on that you crave the impossible,
but there you stood, eyes focused like a telescope,
when you turned and said to me,
She's the one.
How did you know?
Was it the way she smiled at you
on the street? Was it the way she laughed
till her eyes sparkled, like she'd never been allowed to laugh before?
Or maybe it was the way she grabbed you by the shoulders,
spun you around,
and said,
Look at me,
and for the first time, you didn't hesitate.
November 23, 2012
"Deep"
This poem is from today's PAD Challenge.
Did you think I could forget?
The way each word slipped out
like an unforgiving secret,
stealing a dirty glimpse of air
before dissolving into ash.
The way you spoke
made me think you were lost,
spitting up poetry from your frothing lips
as you stumbled
through each thick, slow day.
Time runs deep.
You wrap it around your cuts
like a bandaid,
a savior,
protecting yourself from the memory of
the night you called and begged Help me
and I didn't come.
I pretended I didn't know your name.
Should I have told the truth?
Did you think I could forget?
The way each word slipped out
like an unforgiving secret,
stealing a dirty glimpse of air
before dissolving into ash.
The way you spoke
made me think you were lost,
spitting up poetry from your frothing lips
as you stumbled
through each thick, slow day.
Time runs deep.
You wrap it around your cuts
like a bandaid,
a savior,
protecting yourself from the memory of
the night you called and begged Help me
and I didn't come.
I pretended I didn't know your name.
Should I have told the truth?
November 03, 2012
November PAD Challenge!
I am so excited to be participating in the November PAD (poem-a-day) challenge. We're on day 3 already and it has been so much fun! It's not too late to join in. For daily prompts and more poetic camaraderie, visit Poetic Asides.
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