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Saturday, November 27, 2021

Not-So-Dark Angels

 
Dark Angel 
—Poetry by Ann Wehrman, Sacramento, CA 
—Photos by Chris Feldman
 
 
 
MY SELF IS NOT EVIL
 
I thought to deny my self  
took Christian teachings and  
Mom’s harsh reprimands of
You’re so selfish! to heart  
 
sought to escape it through drugs
gluttony then starved glamour
to sacrifice it, working to please others
yielding my heart in love, my body in sex
 
chased the ideals of  
selfless service, unconditional love
without first understanding  
and loving my self
 
having been brought to my knees
my back, my belly
having cried in fear  
fasted, renounced—
 
I’ve finally fallen in love with my self
in all its righteous, healthy
beautiful aspects
body, mind, soul, and spirit  
 
in the quiet between breaths
I lean back in my mind
looking out from a recliner  
in the center of my skull
 
my soul steady, open
God is present  
eager to converse
varicolored, splendid 
 
 
 
Woman by Gerd Altmann
—Public Domain Image from Pixabay
 
 

YOGA AT MIDNIGHT
 
warm yellow moon outside
my dark room
sleepless at midnight  
I stand like a mountain
breathe into my abdomen
lift my arms, stretch overhead
bend forward from my hips
melt toward worn carpet
hang for awhile
fingertips trail on the floor
then slowly unfold back to standing  
well past middle age
I marvel at the gift
of dancing with myself  
the Universe and God  
at midnight, in the moonlight 
 
 
 
Showtime
 

 
HONESTY
 
how can a woman maintain the image  
so carefully cultivated, society’s recipe  
just the right clothes, hair, weight
a good bra, closely shaved legs
 
nice shoes, make-up, jewelry  
demure tone of voice
brainwashed since girlhood
when can a girl breathe
 
what if she burps, passes gas, vomits
sweats, cries, bleeds
how does she live  
when she has sold herself based on artifice
 
is there ever a moment  
of honesty, truth, or happiness
how does she avoid suffocation  
in a doll’s house of society’s expectations 
 
 
 
Deluge St.
 

 
METAMORPHOSIS
(After watching Dune, 2021)
 
people filed in ahead of time
coughing, bringing in the cold, wet leaves on street shoes, boots
compelled, they came in couples, some alone, families with kids
 
sneaked snacks, chatted, leaned back in their loungers
the show played at the theater  
and streamed from home screens, available to all
 
people quieted, unsure of what to expect
some had read the book long ago, but most had not since reading was hard
preferring images, sounds, the shows that filled their minds
 
this show was entertainment yet something more
cities gray megalithic blocks of stone, tan deserts undulating waves
tsunamis of sound without words, without harmony, deep bell tones, keening
people watched, listened, felt the message beyond words
a powerful opening, freeing
 
suddenly the theatre became dark inside, home streaming shows stopped
one-hundred-year storm cracked open the sky, deluged the city, power out for hours
 
in the theater, ushers with flashlights helped the people out and to their cars  
those at home grinned, put logs on fires, wrapped in blankets, waited out the storm
 
next day dawned clear, tree branches down everywhere, reservoir full  
people scratched their heads, unsure of the message of the show
that had stopped halfway through, never resumed, unfinished
 
yet its purpose was realized  
in the people’s minds, hearts opened by sound, sight
they knew, shrugged, went forth changed
 
discussions turned to invitations, plans being made
potlucks, community feasts, shared gardens’ last fruits, the holidays coming soon
white toenail moon grinned overhead in clear, cool night sky 
 
 
 
Liminal Passageway #1



Today’s LittleNip:

BLUE GREEN
—Ann Wehrman
 
blue liminal and
green, a cobalt sky touches
spring’s electric grass 
 
 
 
Liminal Passageway #2

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Today, (Sat. 11/27), 2pm: Poetry of the Sierra Foothills (Poetry is Gold in El Dorado County!) celebrates Native American Heritage Day with featured poet Stephen Meadows plus open mic. Love Birds Coffee & Tea Co., 4181 Hwy 49, Diamond Springs (where Hwy 49 meets Pleasant Valley Rd.). Host: Lara Gularte

__________________________

—Medusa, with thanks to collaborators Ann Wehrman and Chris Feldman for today’s fine presentation, with their striking poems and visuals! Collaborations are always welcome in Medusa's Kitchen!
 
 
 
Poetry is Gold in El Dorado County!
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA
 







 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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