Are you listening?
Can't you hear the voices of my heart
That call for your attention
To what they have to say?

Are you listening?
The sun is now setting in the sky,
The sounds along the streets are calming down... .
Why is it that you don't listen to the voices of my heart?
-      -      -      -      -      -

08/19/2015(c)Vilma Vitanza
Oakland, CA

Your cap.
Your brown night cap.
Your brown night cap no longer has your scent---
Even your cap betrayed me when you left.

Not much remains of you in this my little house.
Your picture's in the kitchen over the window sill;
Your four shirts, one T-shirt, one handkerchief,
One pair of socks, towels, pajamas,
And the brush I bought for you.

Now, let's see... have I forgotten something
That is not mine but yours?
Oh, yes, your books!

The inventory is almost finished, I believe... .
But, no.  I'm not quite done.
There's something else you left, something I cannot return.
They are the memories that we built together,
The bruises in my heart,
The broken dreams, the magic,
The remnants of my youth.

Now, everything is packed and we must say goodbye,
Goodbye to you,
The Spring that came in Winter
The Winter of our lives.
   -        -        -       -       -

04/31/04(c)Vilma Vitanza
Richmond, CA

He sits across the table in a quiet mood
Holding the paper with both hands,
Concentrated on the daily news.
"Anything good?"   I ask.
His lips and eyes smile looking at me.
"There's the sad news,
And then there's the depressing news,"
He says, smiling again.
This time his eyelids, two tired butterflies,
Cover his eyes---I cannot see their smile.

                               * * *
09/19/2008(c)Vilma Vitanza
Berkeley, CA