ash
what a tragedy has befallen us!
so that we no longer smile
and share no laughs,
without the bitter reminder
of how it all fell
to ash.
the lighthouse keeper’s daughter watches townsfolk hurry beneath the building fury, the pleasant evening’s promise blanketed. She turns the pages of the storm with every sense, hoping to predict the night to come. Even her spine feels the thunder that follows the jagged tears in the sky, but to no avail. This chapter book, each ending holding multiverses for the next, confounds faith in any easy climax. The speed of it sucks drapes through open windows, its shades of darkness suck the light from the tower, the edge of the whole crosses the bar. Please, she whispers into its ear, be kind to those at sea.
(after the 2016 painting Night Watch, by Andrea Kowch)
The monster is at my door again
I thought I had vanquished it when
my parents got divorced and I was taken out of the situation
where too much alcohol was consumed
by someone who was supposed to care for me,
because he was a mean drunk
The monster is at my door again
I only had to face the monster intermittently after the divorce
when I went to visit, but thankfully those were short
As I grew up I had the power to choose
whether to put myself in that situation
where the monster was present
The monster is at my door again
this time he is after my child
who has never experienced the monster before like I have.
He was very young when his cousin went to live with family
because his mother let the monster win
and I sheltered him from my experiences with the monster
The monster is at my dooor again
and I am begging him not to take my baby
my precious child, who has not had to deal with the monster before
I HATE the monster and how it destroys families and lives
and I want so much more for his life
but I can’t slay the monster, it must come from within.
Integrity a pearl safely wrapped in the arms of shell
Generational Love supportive and true decorated honor wrapped in bows medals and badges
Values placed on a shining proud chest sewn over heart with truth
Happy is a job well done a generous gift from an open heart
Joy is the big bright smile that Happy waters so freely
Happy is a surprise when all needs are met and debt forgiven
Happy feels calm warm inside when the outside feels tricky and harsh
Friends gathered under a glowing tent playing music and all are content
Happy is unconditional support fed spoon fulls of love at home
Happy includes others it isn’t a solo game of gain
Happy a harmonious union of loving souls
Gathered to do good and make it so much better for all!
at my dining room table
where art is served
full cups gleam gold and the silver’s sable
knives shine serrated and curved
where art is served
everyone’s welcome to dine
knives shine serrated and curved
cut through to the center the heart the divine
everyone’s welcome to dine
the centerpiece is an abstract beast
cut through to the center the heart the divine
leave only drippings of blood and grease
the centerpiece is an abstract beast
never completely consumed
leave only drippings of blood and grease
the satisfied palette blooms
never completely consumed
full cups gleam gold and the silver’s sable
the satisfied palette blooms
at my dining room table
wretched body! I tremble
in realization that I’ve no choice
but to have loved you across many
forms a sort of perennial
obsession
let me be your instrument your
mother and father
a secret-lover: for we are the same!
I place my hands on your strings
and my wounds
dissolve
inexplicable as your devotion
and fluid
as my madness
Crickets chirping
wind chimes tinkling
fountains trickling
babies laughing
soft wind stirring
kitten’s meow
your voice speaking love.
Music to me.
-Sue Neufarth Howard
My skin tingles with electric,
lightning flashes,
pinpricks of hair rise,
thunder echoes,
the air is alive.
Particles of energy,
dancing,
restless,
settle into me
with each drop of rain.
ebb and flow
ebb and flow
except when a wave or two
or three impose upon me
washing over me, sending me elsewhere
a time, place, mood
welcoming me back, if only
except I don’t so much want to go
I swim a bit, try to center myself
back on course
back on course
the kindnesses can be the hardest of all
please, thank you, yes I believe I will
niceties despite the volume of memories
a twelve year old girl now grown
fifteen year old boy now making grown up purchases
seeing them, knowing
we are all what we have always been
yet we are different, altered, changed
ebb and flow
ebb and flow
except when a storm comes
breaking the dam
bringing the tears, the highlight reel
way back and not so far
someone’s whispering my name and reminding me
I could linger in the lightning
but I promised myself I won’t
back on course
back on course
