SECTION THIRTEEN
POETRY PAGE THREE

sm
COLUMN NINETY-EIGHT, OCTOBER 1, 2003
(Copyright © 2003 The Blacklisted Journalist)

PIVOT
For Peter Coyote

I tried to cover my eyes with spoons
So I couldn't see the pain
I tried to extinguish the fire of memory
By shooting liquid on the flame
But I only found myself
Blind, covered in cold wet ashes
You can pivot where you stand he said to me
You can change your intention
 

So I brush the ashes off my soul
To the ground where I now stand
I take the same spoon
Rinsed clean
And dig a small hole
I plant a new seed
With the water
 Stored behind my eyes
All these years
 

Even the wild lupine
On the hillside at Olema
Must first push through dirt
Before it blooms  ##

* * *

WALKING IN THE DESERT
FOR CARLA

I WAS 22 YEARS OLD
SHE WAS SOMEWHERE NEAR THERE
WE WERE BOTH MOTHERS
BOTH WITH BOYS
2 OR 3 YEARS OLD.

THE TRAVELING WAS GOOD THEN

WE HAD ADVENTURE IN OUR BLOOD
WE WERE SEEKING SOMETHING NEW
WE WERE LOVING LIFE
IT FELT LIKE STANDING ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN
WITH WIND BLOWING YOUR HAIR BACK
EVERY INCH OF  SKIN SENSING EVERY PIECE OF THE UNIVERSE
COSMIC WIND BLOWING WISDOM THROUGH OUR HAIR

WE WERE MOTHER GIRLS
BOTH WITH BOYS
BOTH WITH OUR BOYS
WE WERE MOTHER CHILDREN THEN
 

WE WERE SISTERS
WE WERE FRIENDS
WE SHARED SECRETS
WE SHARED SECRETS
WE SHARED MEN

  WE WALKED ACROSS THE HIGH DESERT TOGETHER
BARE BREASTED PROUD
WITH  STARS ON OUR PILLOWCASE SKIRTS  

WE WERE SISTERS
WE WERE FRIENDS
SHE NEVER LEFT ME
EVEN MILES AND YEARS APART
|
SHE NEVER LEFT ME  

WHEN I FELL OFF THE PLANET
SHE NEVER LEFT ME
SHE WAITED FOR ME
WITH HER WISDOM
SHE HELPED ME MEND
 

SHE IS MY SISTER
FOREVER FRIEND  ##

* * *

JUST BEFORE THE WORLD CHANGED ON THE
ELEVENTH OF SEPTEMBE
R

For Susan  Towlson

Traveling west towards the horizon
The setting sun a golden orb
Sitting on the edge of the earth
Butterscotch coating the trees
Behind us
The mirrored moon
Rising yellow huge
And warm from where we have just been
We are between
The son
The sun
And the moon
At this moment
Life could not be better
With an angel in the blue, bruise yellow sky
And a jet across the eye of Luna
Watching over us  ##  

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