Phoenix

Suddenly: that small bright flame
behind her eyes that tells me
she is here in all her attention.
A question was asked that she must answer with passion.
And she is passionate, make no mistake;
for that minute her wings expanded
and she flew us to where you can see
what she sees when she crosses those mountains.
Then the talk circled back to where it began:
children, husbands, relatives, friends,
all the patient weaving of connection
that keeps us safe and the world turning.
So I’ll wait while the world turns
another month, or six, to see
her fire again, and count myself lucky.
For when it comes, she is
glorious.

Easter

We went walking on Easter day,
talking around about this and that.
Up the beach and down the beach,
shoes in our hands and feet wet,
we talked about the party and that awful guy
who used to be a nice guy, or so we thought.
We talked about thigh gaps, and how
photos make you look fat and worried,
although you were worried, a bit, but
not fat. Sleepovers and sex noises, drinking
and smoking. Who liked who. And then
we did ratings out of ten. Ourselves, not
the others, we’re not…well, actually,
we are that rude. Maybe on Easter day
we were a bit self absorbed, because you see,
we were together and we have so much
to say, things we can’t or just don’t feel like
saying to someone else. Unless we did say,
and this is repeat five of the bitch session,
and that’s fun too.

You know how fucked up I am, and I
know you, and that’s a warm bath
for the soul, to have a break from watching
what we say. So you know I like
you something terrible, and you know
about my crazy tattoo, but it’s ok
because I said it’s ok, and you are the one
who believes me when it really matters.
It’s crazy, but it’s true, just like us.

So we talk about our kids and our lovers,
and then we wash the sand off our feet
and say goodbye. Now two days later the
glow is still with me, and I’m writing this poem
To let it out.