let's meet for lunch

Spicy chocolate drink
hesitantly sipped, I'm on the edge
of my seat,
of the cliff,
dangling above clouds
or thick fog
so far away
I don't know the difference
between casual conversation
and devil's lair.

Wolf Heart

I am not afraid
it comes out a whisper
from sunrise to sunset
pastel skies with the moon,
a guest no one seemed to invite,
but welcomed none the less.
Trees, shadowed veins, woven in
the sky dark, patterned lace.
I feel howling, strong and large
warrior soul, wild woman, loving mother
bringing light and wonder to all.
Thank you for this day.

Gato Blanco

"Don't lick your stitches,"
I sigh, firm as if you understand me,
sweet like a best friend would,
but you are cat.

Long-bodied, stretched
and slender tail, white sleek fur,
the golden eyes stare me down
wise and fierce.

It is me who needs chiding,
it is me who is student
grasping to know you
but I don't.

Pied Piper

I'm an orphan, urchin child
dirty face, tear-streaked
matted rat hair.
Lost, I wonder.

Enter you, debonair
crass and blunt tongue
wild-eyed
monster truck revs
magician.
Weaving your
charming tales.

So I follow,
not blindly but thoughtfully
consciously.
I adjust my blinders-
"Lead the way!"

Eight

 "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."

I can't focus;
the list is too long.
you start crossing out names of people
you've never even known.
I'm protestin'
I ruined lives, you hear me?
that doesn't go away with
your pen, marking out whole years
of sorrow and bile
Then-
You crossed out her name
I say,
that's ok, that one name,
she's dead, I cant fix that.
and you said
that's ok dear
this is the first-time
ever
in this life
you don't have to fix anyone
or anything
only be willing.

Husband

He sleeps, snores reverberates in and out,
in thank, out you, in thank, out you.
Crochet hook fingers loop tightly.
I feel it through and through,
I love you, so I tip-toe and I pitter-pat
to the kitchen so you don't wake.

The Malingerer

Thanksgiving eve and you were in my dreams

you sprawled in a bed, arms angular and bent back

stretched out, whipping tentacles from a beetle thorax chest

I take the awkward embrace, as I took you,

like I took so much else, I take it into me.

It is how I was trained to be.

I woke up, drowning in cold sweat and guilt,

and stuffed the emotions down, with turkey,

with fear, with the shame of my own breath, 

the vapor tendrils which flow from mouth. 

As I had diligently learned, studied,

That night, my dreams were of birthing babies,

but I woke up in relief, to know

that I was never taught how.