Sacre Coeur

 

Sacre Coeur

A degree of sadness that ignites the heart

More than Bill-and-Melinda-Divorce sad

Different than Duke-Hastings-Exits-Bridgerton bereft

Nearer to Tree-Less-City-Parks distraught

Yesterday-Leafy-Today-Denuded disconsolate

Once-Living-Trunks-Now-Dead-Pyres devastated

Jesus squats among the remnants

Accepts their weight when they lean in

“You have ministering angels who can do that!”

I want to stomp, but the recently-

Have-been-departed rest 

Their heads on His shoulders

Their wails close to His ears

I don’t believe He would hear me

“This is below your paygrade!”

“You’re in the wonder-working business!”

I try to curse, but the desolated

Have fallen into His lap

Their snot soiling His undyed robe

I don’t expect Him to hear me

Poets Respond Live, May 9, 2021

 

The Muir Less Traveled

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 The Muir Less Traveled published on Trouvaille Review, May 7, 2021.

Backstory:  I had hoped to hike among ancient, towering redwoods during a California vacation.  Unfortunately when my husband and I arrived at Muir Forest, the parking lot was full as were the grassy areas on either side of the road. We were one of many carloads of people seeking spaces to park creeping past tourists  who were walking down the road towards the park's main entrance.

I gave up on my idea of experiencing a nature high among giant redwoods and drove away disappointed.  Farther down the same road we saw a sign for Muir Beach, and needing a break from the traffic, I pulled into the parking area.  We parked in the shade, and headed out to explore the hills around the beach. 

It was a sunny day, but breezy and I was glad for my jacket.  The lack of trees on the trail was more than made up for by the views of the ocean.  We only passed a few other people on the trail, which was a welcome relief after the crowd of cars around the Forest.

The experience reminded me of the news stories that ask if we are loving our National Parks to death.

Midwest Writing Center's Local Lovers Open Mic 2021

 Hosted by the Midwest Writing Center

SPECTRA National Poetry Month Reading April 22, 2021

 

Black Moon Magazine Issue 1.2

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Two poems in this issue  April 2021.

501s is an example of how I use poetry writing to cope with/ process my husband's chronic health issues.  Written in 2016, it's one of my first poems, and it was rejected ten times before its acceptance by Black Moon.

With Regret is based on a mixed emotion with a back story.  One Spring morning while walking to work, I noticed a small, grey catbird delicately hopping down the Ridge Road curb.  The next morning, the bird was there again, at the bottom of the sharp curve in the road that hugs the ridge's high point.  The third morning, I noticed a mound of grey feathers in the middle of the road.

The bird's death got me wondering if I could have saved it.  Maybe I should have realized something was wrong with it.  If I had, I could have looked for its nest, or brought it home. 

The thought of bringing it home got me imaging what it would have been like to turn a wild thing into a pet.  The idea both thrilled and appalled me.  Connecting with and being accepted by something wild sounded exciting.  Conversely, being responsible for unwilding something felt sacrilegious.

In writing the poem, I leaned into the thrill side of the experience.  I intended the poem to express humanity's selfish impulse.  The speaker looks at another's tragedy, and only thinks about her lost opportunity.  Her regret is somewhat for the bird, but it is mostly for herself.

Written in 2018, I'd never submitted it because I'd never found a journal that felt like a good fit for this poem.  Not until I discovered Black Moon that is.  Their mission statement speaks of artistic attunement to experience, which aptly expresses this poem's origins.