—Poetry by Ann Wehrman, Sacramento, CA
—Photos by Chris Feldman
PURPOSE
If love were a horse
mine would be a brown mare
strong and patient
who loves to run in the wind
I’d cling to her mane
my strong thighs and knees against her flanks
my blanket secure, back straight
we’d fly cross the resurrected prairie
long grass dancing
blue sky above us, river to the west
then slowing, we’d walk homeward
down the village street
I’d water, brush, and feed her
then to my evening meal
share stories, wine with my beloved
later, sleep warm along his side
my purpose to love him, make our home
write our stories, speak the truth
ride free in the wind
if love were a horse
mine would be a brown mare
If love were a horse
mine would be a brown mare
strong and patient
who loves to run in the wind
I’d cling to her mane
my strong thighs and knees against her flanks
my blanket secure, back straight
we’d fly cross the resurrected prairie
long grass dancing
blue sky above us, river to the west
then slowing, we’d walk homeward
down the village street
I’d water, brush, and feed her
then to my evening meal
share stories, wine with my beloved
later, sleep warm along his side
my purpose to love him, make our home
write our stories, speak the truth
ride free in the wind
if love were a horse
mine would be a brown mare
DREAM OF EARTH’S HEALING
emerald blades reach high
roots secure in black earth
grasses dance in midday breeze
ripple in rich exuberance
grasslands reborn, ocean
of deep, clear green
time still exists
for this world, growing old
enough time to reverse
bloody centuries
screams of the dying
now and in memory
humanity chose rightly
dark bloodstains purged
soil, water cleaned
Earth reblooms
the song is sung
choice remains, lesson learned
emerald blades reach high
roots secure in black earth
grasses dance in midday breeze
ripple in rich exuberance
grasslands reborn, ocean
of deep, clear green
time still exists
for this world, growing old
enough time to reverse
bloody centuries
screams of the dying
now and in memory
humanity chose rightly
dark bloodstains purged
soil, water cleaned
Earth reblooms
the song is sung
choice remains, lesson learned
TAKING TALLY
up all night combing through memories
threaded with silver like long, soft tresses
I roll on one side, then the other in darkness
inside, hyper-clear recall of past days, nights
sunrise still hours away, sky dark
I long for the coming deep blue, then the light
vast drafts of cool air pour through the window
I belt my robe, breeze caresses my face
open my soul, drift along
remember, revisit
through decades-long silences
seeking forgiveness for callous words
wrong choices, theft, inflicting pain
it’s OK to be alone sometimes
though not forever
up all night combing through memories
threaded with silver like long, soft tresses
I roll on one side, then the other in darkness
inside, hyper-clear recall of past days, nights
sunrise still hours away, sky dark
I long for the coming deep blue, then the light
vast drafts of cool air pour through the window
I belt my robe, breeze caresses my face
open my soul, drift along
remember, revisit
through decades-long silences
seeking forgiveness for callous words
wrong choices, theft, inflicting pain
it’s OK to be alone sometimes
though not forever
REPETITIVE
(To complement “Thousands of Times,”
by Caschwa, September 7, 2020, Medusa’s Kitchen)
set my alarm for 7:00 am, put it out of my mind
devoured Tolstoy in translation over dinner
graded papers online
giving each student respectful consideration
brushed my teeth, resenting every jarring vibration
from the electric toothbrush
finally fell into bed, tossed for a while, then
sank into deep sleep, forgotten dreams
suddenly awoke, room lit by pale sun
looked at the alarm, five minutes before 7:00
sighed, turned it off before it rang, got up
just like every morning
(To complement “Thousands of Times,”
by Caschwa, September 7, 2020, Medusa’s Kitchen)
set my alarm for 7:00 am, put it out of my mind
devoured Tolstoy in translation over dinner
graded papers online
giving each student respectful consideration
brushed my teeth, resenting every jarring vibration
from the electric toothbrush
finally fell into bed, tossed for a while, then
sank into deep sleep, forgotten dreams
suddenly awoke, room lit by pale sun
looked at the alarm, five minutes before 7:00
sighed, turned it off before it rang, got up
just like every morning
NIGHT’S PASSING
climb through the empty white page
into a world colored sad
deep purple of late September grapes
sweet in my mouth, quench my thirst
dark cloud after a storm
golden light peeks under its edge
old dusky roses fall to pieces
petals browning, crumpled, dropped
glass of hot steeped lavender, lemon balm
I sit with memories of decades ago
when love beat strongly in my veins
instinct propelled me
desire for true love, children, family
incoherent, pressing—the price unknown
yet the road led to solitude
its price paid and paid again
there is a voice, a light, music
within my body’s house
instinct still calls—I feel the edge
call to change, to trust, to grow
someday, to leap unafraid into the light
climb through the empty white page
into a world colored sad
deep purple of late September grapes
sweet in my mouth, quench my thirst
dark cloud after a storm
golden light peeks under its edge
old dusky roses fall to pieces
petals browning, crumpled, dropped
glass of hot steeped lavender, lemon balm
I sit with memories of decades ago
when love beat strongly in my veins
instinct propelled me
desire for true love, children, family
incoherent, pressing—the price unknown
yet the road led to solitude
its price paid and paid again
there is a voice, a light, music
within my body’s house
instinct still calls—I feel the edge
call to change, to trust, to grow
someday, to leap unafraid into the light
Today’s LittleNip:
QUIET NIGHT
After Quiet Night, photo by Chris Feldman
low lamp casts warmth
through its shade
soft pumpkin
harvest moon, or a fox’s fur
darkened room, corner brazier
feels safe
like a long hug
deep enough to release
the choking sob
you didn’t know you held
_______________________
Many thanks to Ann Wehrman and Chris Feldman for today’s beautiful presentation of love and memories and what we bring with us through the years ~
Tonight at 6pm, tune in to the online reading, Carolyn Ralston: The Edge of Your Universe/Poetry and Memories, hosted by Laura Martin. Info: www.facebook.com/events/2766476990278207/. Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/83980634820?pwd=STZxaTkyNElicTdUd3k0SGcvMlgvQT09&fbclid=IwAR2kPVHmf8dF8BauiMtbDBpE8YGO4J7OJTMGa8rBHnbh2uVcjPOfjkcFnS8#success/. Meeting ID: 839 8063 4820; Passcode: 968703.
And then at 8pm tonight, Poetry Night presents A Poetry Reading with Mo Stoycoff, Charles Halsted, Linda Scheller on Zoom at ucdavisdss.zoom.us/my/andyojones/. Host: Dr. Andy Jones. Info: www.facebook.com/events/361680411773151/.
_______________________
—Medusa
—Public Domain Photo
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