Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Long Time New Poem

Wow -- I started a new job and got sucked in like a drowning camel -- who knows where that image came from.

Here are the only two new poems I've written in the past two months, drafts, jottings, musings, stretching the old muscles -- ugh

Still having Eavan Boland dreams.

#1 (for PZ)

No chemo for her
She knew and true
To her heart she blossomed
Into the space around
Where we watch
Each moment with gardenias
And gratitude.

#2 (also for PZ)
Finding An Old Letter From A Steady Friend

Things used to matter so much
I hurt you easily
I was strong, like a vise
around your fingers
where they pointed to
your heart

Now nothing hurts
anymore like a day
you forgot me
standing there not standing
up for myself
down in the gutter of your
laugh

I loved you like a lover
less a friend
we both hated it and
couldn't sleep for the
dreams

Today I re-read your
threats
they seem so small on
the yellowed letter
sweat breaks out
between my breasts
my skin remembers
what I have done under
with my mind
with time
the tip of your tongue
to my ear
lashing --

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This poem made me feel peaceful. Really like the sweat between breasts image, coz we have a lot of sweat like that for the whole summer on the east coast and then when i sleep at night too.

ANALISA xx

Jennifer Swanton Brown said...

Thanks -- that's the great thing about poetry -- one image can mean so many things at the same time that it is very specific -- hey, are you MY Analisa? if so, then xoxo to you too. xoxoxoxo !!!