AprilDawn

AprilDawn Jun 2014

on  old note pads
filled with
solemnly recited
ancient facts,
every official phone call
leading nowhere
the   penetrating
conclusion remains
the same
death came
calling for him
that afternoon,
he answered
     yet
so far
no one else
        has

My husband's ****** case changed governmental agency hands again , and every call leads to the same unsolved place.

#frustatration

AprilDawn Jun 2014

Scattered Blossoms

as though a small town
beauty pageant winner
paraded through
local roads
tossing sweet petals
like fist-fulls of  candy
from her seat perched high above
this fragrant litter
purged  in layers
as the Catalpa tree
with its divinely
designed
heart-shaped leaves
plainly remains
      an organic shade
for the neighbor's
ratty shed

.

This is a poem I began to write 7 years ago in Massachusetts ! I realized this tree also existed in my neighbor's back yard where I live now about 2 years ago , a truly delightful discovery.The shape of this tree was different and that had thrown me, in identifying it.One day my nose was clear enough to smell the flowers on the stepping stones on my way to the car and the fragrance catapulted me back to that big tree in New England.

#fragrantlitter

AprilDawn Jun 2014

Gray Birds

perched
on the  wire
just above  the  bedroom window
your midnight  cackles
are not  welcome
my tired eyes
hope for sweet release
one stray
crackle
and it’s
lights out
  bird face

Sorry to offend PETA or bird watchers , but those birds are loud at night.

#birdsshouldntbelouderthantrains

AprilDawn Jun 2014

Last Time

I tried to gut a gourd
it flew screaming
through the kitchen
with the cleaver still inside
oh,well
canned makes the best pie
anyway.

Gave up trying to make pumpkins, butternut stuffs from scratch ...anything thickly skinned ...

#eviscerationepicfail

AprilDawn Jun 2014

Gone

She smiles wistfully and says
"another cheap year”
no more last minute
store runs
for golden Best Dad Oscars
tiny books of native wisdom
hastily painted
sailboat pictures
boxes of gooey cordial cherries
packed with a huge
hand fashioned card
made at zero hour
proudly displayed at work
for all to see
the talent
of his baby

This one is written for my daughter , who lost her Dad in the summer of 2002.Father's Day is still ******* her .

#dadsday

AprilDawn May 2014

First Taste

of  this spring
surges  through
my veins
promise of sunshine
and rain
anticipation of pleasure
and pain
nourished
by the sweet life
lucky  harvest  of
earth born
strawberry delight
too soon  it's all over
only stains
remain

The first local strawberries of the season are always cause for big hoopla at our house.Written May 30,2014.Accidental rhyme scheme !

#berriedtreasures

AprilDawn May 2014

Super 8 Soap

Rummage
through Christmas decorations
headed for the garage

forced  order
onto random bits  and bobs
a long forgotten bag
yields a wrapped bar
of motel soap
at the very bottom
who's very existence
spins me in a split second
backwards
to  all those days and nights
of our tragedy

How did I ever survive this thing?
Have I yet?

it offers  me no real answers

just continues
to look crisply unused

and wildly
out of place

2005 or 2006,Moved a lot after my husband died , and had to sort out so many things ,so many times.The memories were hardest the first few years.Now they are more like surprise treasures when I find them.

#founditems