there is
a calm
that comes
at the in-between
of one thing
ended
and another
not yet
begun
a moment
to exhale
before
breath
burned
you chase sparks
dancing
in the dark
in search
of heat
craving
the searing touch
of flames
upon your skin
forgotten
the steadfast sun
enveloping you
in nurturing warmth
day
after
day
watercolor blossoms
i am trying
not to panic
as the paints
run rivulets
down the page
as lemon yellow
and cadmium red
meet and mingle
turn into whatever
orange that is
i am learning
to go with the flow
of pigment on paper
let colors bloom
where they will
define:us
i try to name you
to explain myself
when i should
just accept
that for now
you are here
and i am glad
one more
your daughter laughs
at my silly jokes
the way you do
loudly
without reserve
in spite of herself
and i am grateful
to have experienced
two generations of
the sweetest sounds
but am greedy enough
to want to know
at least one more
postcard
remembering will never
be the problem
it’s what to do
with the memories
that gives me trouble
so thank you
for the gentle reminder
that some images
still need a few words
to make them whole
hearing voices
i am returning
to my old
solitary ways
keeping company
only with words
on musty pages
but even they
sometimes pull
call me present
with the gentle lilt
and heart-soothing timbre
of your voice
rising temperatures
with this sudden stifling heat
i know i should want space
some room to breathe
a chance to cool down
but your warmth beckons
and i cannot help
but eagerly move
toward combustion
lunar eclipse
with millions of pairs of
eyes staring expectantly
who could blame her
for hiding in the shadows
blushing in embarrassment
thankful for the gauze of
cloud cover drifting past
shielding her briefly
until she was ready
for the slow move
back into light
joined
my mother’s left arm
is longer than her right
there is an extra crease
on the inside of her elbow
about half an inch
from the usual one
that she used to say
the elders used to say
was the site of attachment
of a fully formed limb
to an endless arm
in a previous life
i listened to her tales
and afterward contorted
my body searching
all my joints for a similar
sign of connection
loosing the binds 