The Sound of Silence
I pluck a string. Low E.Baby girl on floor goes still.Rosebud lips round to a silent O. Low reverberation, ripples up and down my spinein male baritones. High E.Soft block slips from chubby hands.Eyelids flutter. We watch.The room fills with fireflies.Blink. Blink. Blink. A high trill, like crystal notes from a water-glass xylophone,signals her joy. We watch.Fireflies shift intoa rainbow of electric butterflies. Baby trills a chord: eeee aaa ddd.We drink in harmony,effervescent fizzies tickling tummies. She makes the sign for more.My fingers dance over strings.Colors pop like fireworks and I laugh for her. ~Nara Maloneimage credit: blurred christmas lights by Dominick on Flickr It’s possible not everyone sees the…
Ode to an Everyday Poet
I remember the night she left.Her dress, nightgown, brush. How each quivered in your handswhen you lifted them from a hospital-scented suitcase,replaced hers with mine.A silent drive followed.Me too small to ask questions.You wordless in your guilt. Her cousin’s wife’s sister took me that first time.Held me tight, my heels drumming her skirt, fists beating her arms,while you walked away.Raising a little girl…It wasn’t something you could do.It wasn’t something I allowed you to let go.Every time you handed me off, I believed you back.Sometimes it took months, but you always came. Memories rub like sandget under my skinin my eyes.Your voice still with me,filling a lifetime of hours with…
Waltzing the Muse
Armed in white tieand cultured southern pearls,we’re civilly suited. Stepping into the word waltz, an etiquette of circle and tease– stalk in, scurry back. Manufacturing rhythm in plot turned inside out.Sexy repartee confined,to tidy essentials. I stumble, tripping on decorum,bread and butter foreplayconsumed with knife and fork. Corseted in propriety,confinement’s keys unlock cheeky fantasy. Him robed in moonlight,hard body surfinga dew soaked meadow. He’s caught me out,saw mischief dance naked in my eyes.Or tasted whine-laced hunger behind a chaste kiss. Leaning in close,his whisper hot against my ear,he digs in. Ravishes with words. Parts me with devil’s tongue,thoughts spread like a meal. Devour me, sugar.Consume me.Eat with your fingers. ~Nara…