paintedpoetry

She wades through the broken stream Tears dripping down her face As crisp droplets rapping her ankles She was shattered; frayed The creak seeps into her icy veins And silken stones cushion her weary feet Once salved, she steps onto smoldering rock Into bladed pasture, unto a new lea

I am the hawk; calculating each flicker in wingtip Watching the mouse scurry across the field I am the killer, silently stalking Silkily sliding in the sky The mouse shivers – jilted away Leaping from my talons, squeaking in fear I am the hawk; returning home Victoriously bringing my meal Hungry mouths squawking for sustenance Only, there are no hungry mouths No youths begging for their mother Only the shattered nest I am the hawk— Predator begot prey

A raw lump of roast delicately searing under the broiler Drip. Drip. My sweat cascades into your gravy pan Whipped together with tarragon and type You butter enveloping my juices - tarnishing the marbled sirloin A am meat, a cow - moo.

A turquoise thread wedged between my toes I tread along it, heel – toe, One wobbly foot in front of the other The thread is a fine line Between a 50-foot drop and a fragile corpse I am a trapeze artist clinging desperately To this last semblance of sanity As the thread frays, sways and dances Between the trees; in a shattered breath I could be a limpless doll Along the crimson autumn leaves Why am I here, again willingly balancing on straws – Pretending I won’t fall Pretending my next crossing is the last Pretending I’ll be satiated

The engine reeves driven By chilled expectations Dipped in molten chocolate Life ebbs on; each year One tick at a time A never ending alarm Set to “drive me nuts” The decade drifts away As an arctic, ingenuous coup Pretending I am wiser Pretending they’ve been “kind” I take up my banner, covered With bloodstained tears – Gathered on my field of lost Sanguinity and debt My army overflows with “Lessons learned” defending “Buried dreams” I take look at the march ahead Knowing within all doubts I’ll be fine. I’ll succeed. I’ll surpass. Those dreams grew cold - but

Erupting a gossamer butterfly From your blazing cocoon Your silken entrapments Enrapture and entice A passionate elocution The plea of equality The parlay of justice The blade of empathy Each blow by blow The volcanic lava seeps Dripping from your wings Melting away—clawing away I will sway to rhythmatic magma Cloistered amongst your reverent cheers  - mournfully silent as we ashen away

 A single trickling rain drop Like gossamer silk strands Gliding along my third eye Whispers wind's secret caress Breath; Relax.             One.                Two.                  Three. I exhale. Lungs releasing- Pressing translucent memories; Fragment of a fragment As water kisses rose petal, Drifting down stream's curtain The curtain. Pretty little curtain. Where the wizard lies. He smiles up at me With his monocled brow- Sipping on warm tea And fingers quacking casually To the rhythm of his notes This is a safe-zone. Free-zone. Innocent eyes sparkle, Imploring it to be true. I breathe.                           One.        

Once more we gently wade in the creek Grazing, palms entwined, unto the breach A smug dog clutches his plastic Frisbee Shaking droplets onto the furiously giggling child And a subtle cucumber perfume siphons A gentle, unassuming assault on our noses Hand in hand we walk towards peace-driven nadir copperheads den in droves, but  dear friends, obliviousness is no substitution for acquiesce And, thus, we samba in subservience - once more

Stomach juice churns by Lucifer’s den Each lauded thought, my bombastic Bren Hand twists on doorknob; quivering shame Here I’m defeated; here I’m insane I shuffle to the front desk, filled with distrust You click at your keys while my soul’s on combust You’ll be the hero; here, I'm the pawn My chess game completed; check to my Bawn Your smile does nothing; fake plastic cheer You judge me. I see it. Platitudes of jeer I’ll sit with your wizard – he tells me the same I’m paranoid & crazy; he fills me with shame “Trust me” he says, “I’m here only for you” Chirping in s

 A single trickling rain drop Like gossamer silk strands Gliding along my third eye Whispers wind's secret caress Breath; Relax.             One.                Two.                  Three. I exhale. Lungs releasing- Pressing translucent memories; Fragment of a fragment As water kisses rose petal, Drifting down stream's curtain The curtain. Pretty little curtain. Where the wizard lies. He smiles up at me With his monocled brow- Sipping on warm tea And fingers quacking casually To the rhythm of his notes This is a safe-zone. Free-zone. Innocent eyes sparkle, Imploring it to be true. I breathe.                           One.        

 I smiled, once upon a time, As mother's frantic eyes And pinkened dimples sponsored The morning's proceedings.  Have you seen                                      My keys?                                                 

Iridescent pearls slid along silken strands of ebony lock Garland and feathers enhancing The fragrance of pine encrusted misery A young girl sits, back arched, Hands clasped, nails preened Christmas ruffles and bows Encompass her small form - A merry little doll of seasonal fluff Her eyes, limp, with sullen pout Her smile a painted decoy Santa looks down at the child, "and what would you like for Christmas?" The camera flashes; her eyes glinting - A seeming merry sparkle. She just asks for the picture.

You're more myself than I Fingers searing my flesh Restraints cling to my skin As endless mirages entice Fingers searing my flesh Like the subtle whisk of a scalpel As endless mirages entice Begging for the slipknot Like the subtle whisk of a scalpel Bouncing, twisting in menacing sport Begging for the slipknot He adorns his crimson necklace Bouncing, twisting in menacing sport Horrors chirp in melding solace He adorns his crimson necklace Obscenely hail this curtain call Horrors chirp in melding solace Now black pavement guides us Obscenely hail this curtain call Begging the engine cease Now black pavement guides us Lig

Clotted; seeping vermilion pain Crystallized, fraying tears - Gushing veins finally clot. Such warm contentment; A blissful mirage:  - Macbeth's floating dagger I've seen that look: Frustration, heartache Feeling more for me than returned How I wish I could stay numb; Relish a hard-earned reprieve But I can't; I won't.