happy in its flaws,
safe from saws in December
twisted pine still grows
***
pine sparks dance, sizzle
snapping ladder to night sky
supplanting pale stars
happy in its flaws,
safe from saws in December
twisted pine still grows
***
pine sparks dance, sizzle
snapping ladder to night sky
supplanting pale stars
You are no scapegoat
to layer blame over
so I can walk away lighter;
we are not children,
& we do not need to know exactly
whose fault it is
that I no longer levitate
when you walk into a room.
before I knew words
to pin down & catalog
each feeling,
before I could use this voice
like peacock feathers to stroke,
or silk to seduce,
or a razor to draw blood,
about 5 times
in 45 years
(yes, I can number
& remember each
very well)
I stammered
or simply stared, openmouthed,
dumbstruck, undone, left
with absolutely nothing
to say;
that you carry me
to such speechlessness
with simply one smile
is one heartbeat,
one indrawn breath
away from impossible
& I thank God for it.
the teacher tells me
he must learn to color between lines
& flip his 9s in the right direction
so they look less like Ps;
the same with 3s and Es.
I know these
must march in precision
to eliminate alphanumeric anarchy,
& remember my own struggle
with 5 and S, which still look eerily similar
in my manuscript.
So, I bought him a box
of thick, primary-colored crayons
& told him to draw his own lines
& to cross them
whenever he wants,
with as much color
as he can.
By Noel Ihebuzor and Susan Daniels
Susan:
How do I hold the strength
of this spring that sings
and streams;
waterfalls roaring against the shutter
that struggles to hold them in
and back, wrestles to dam them?
Noel:
What good is a spring,
if it simply wells inside
unseen, unfelt, untouched?
Susan:
Untapped and untasted
captive sweetness this strong
can nourish nothing;
only drown what holds it.
Noel:
Springs seek release
to leap and spring forth
surge to find release
(and release us)
to feed the parched earth
a destiny we call escape.
Susan:
In release what was hidden
silvers through sunlight,
a sung arrow that arcs
and returns to its source
softer now; to trace our skin
and the earth gently
with cool fingertips.
Noel:
The released waters unchain,
unbind and wash clean
and deep.
Voice fuses with vision
in the singing rainbowed fountain
defining potential, outpouring possibilities.
Susan:
An outpouring of this significance has a cost.
Within the core of this yes
that must be shouted
as it is brought forth
sleeps power that can shake the earth
and wear down mountains;
let it be heard,
let thunder be its echo,
let the sound carry
to your ears.
***What can I say, besides it is always a joy to write with Noel? Because it very much is.
Poem for my sister (for Laurie).
Still tweaking this one. Any thoughts for improvement?
She used to exhale that sweetness freely,
every pore pouring it out;
its presence softening
the diamond flash of her eyes
but girls learn early
the currency of charm,
and now she pays it out sparingly,
each penny precious
her inside sparkle
traded for a weekend with friends,
a day at the beach, a new novel
I will have to read first,
longer time on the phone.
How can we resist such trading,
our hands cupped
for the gifts she can spare.