Wednesday, November 23, 2011

black madonna

black goddess tree.
slicked with offerings --
unintentionally standing out
in a grove
of green,
and orange,
and yellow.

the talk of the neighborhood.

she oils her skin
smooth, like ebony,
and tries not to feel shame
when the other trees
gather and gossip about
her bare-boned seduction, 
the trim quality of her branches,
her inviting, slim trunk.

ostracized,
she receives few invitations
to festivals and petal recitals.
she pretends not to mind
and fills her time digging
in her roots.
she will need the depth
if she is to stand tall.

the birds know.
they can feel the vibration
of her grief as they roost in her
dark limbs.

they take pity
and fill her obsidian pain
with color --
brilliant reds,
cerulean,
mustard -- 
camouflaging her
from restless eyes
and greedy lips.

like wings on the updraft,
still, she rises.

(copyright 2011)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

serpent girl

little serpent girl.

at once 
olive,
jungle,
asparagus,
sea, 
and sap.

snaking upward
through bone
and skin,

coiling lazily
in the center

and shedding
old skin.

scales
dripping
like
tears
so
the
fire snake
can
rise.

(copyright 2011)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

scythe

puma-eyed moon,
upstaging orion
with its crater-flecked stare.
north always shines true.

winter field.
corn stalk skeletons
dance up noise,
and shiver
as matter is 
stripped,
and sucked,
and teased
 from their
brittle,
bony fibers.

there is no clinging.
no weeping.

watch.
be there.

the bending is fluid,
graced movement.

let go of the reins.

just
let
go.

(copyright 2011)

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Stretching the Mind

The peace of this moment can be achieved without travel.
The brain does not actually know the difference between
breathing in this scene in reality and doing so in your imagination.

Friday, November 4, 2011

eagle storm

i race
across the plains
on a blue-coated horse.

sage is crushed
under hoof,
scenting the air
with something
that cannot be named.

a storm on the horizon.
i leap into its heart
and touch the thunder beings.

the rain pauses
its fall
and gifts me with 
a gown embellished
with a million raindrops --
all with a universe inside.

an eagle shrieks in the sky
and talons clash together
as the plunge and return begins.

"wait for me,"
it urges.
"i am coming."

and i trust that this is so.
aho.

(copyright 2011)