I can tell by the colored ribbons
wrapping the the dawn’s rise
that the angle of the sun
has shifted its gift of light,
along the path Winter runs
to the path where Spring abides.
Ice is breaking apart on the river
and in hearts confined
by viral fears
and foes
who refuse to wear masks
and silently shout
“let the weak die”
as their cold hearts
steal too many lives.
Hope in Spring who opens wide
new angles for the sun
to light brighter paths
and easier days
pushing away
such silent thoughts.
Filed under POETRY
No one wore masks
At the BMV
Where photos are required
On the driver’s license.
Even the clerks
Breathed openly
Over the elderly
And severely
Immunocompromised
Like me.
The only person masked
The one most in need
Of protection.
Required to unmask
For a photo
To prove identity
And that I am
No threat
Driving a car
Or boarding a plane.
And yet,
The un-masked
Are allowed
To threaten me.
Filed under POETRY
The silence is too loud.
Thoughts scream across empty space,
then follow me to bed at night
where cacaphonous dreams replace rest
and solitudinous slumber.
Limbs collide amidst the din of broad strokes
across swollen heart strings
screeching a loud lament.
Reeds explode in pressured bursts of pain,
pealing shouts across my brow.
Constant drumming throbs a meandering beat
unbalancing my feet and mind
with words best left unsaid.
Isolation breaks the rhythm of silent speech.
Music bounces off the walls of my retreat
to this empty, safe and un-crowned house.
The silence is too loud.
I cannot hear my self think my thoughts.
The lyrics repeat the same phrase
over and over and over.
When will this end so we can begin again
to dance in the streets?
And meet for brunch before the matinee ?
When can we say, “See you later today” ?
The silence is too loud.
Filed under POETRY
A charming abuser draws ever near,
Invades our homes, workplaces and schools.
We plead. We beg. We offer rewards.
Leave us unharmed.
The abuser tells stories
To our family and friends
Of our perfidy and foolishness,
Pealing away all self-defense
And defense by those who should care.
The abuser threatens
Each breath we take,
Taking our bodies as his own
And filling hospital beds
with our battered bodies.
The law steps back to allow
His plunder, his blunder, his smirks.
Oh how it hurts
This worsening abuse,
Forming a union of abusers
Under banners of ant-vax, anti-mask,
Patriots, Republicans, conservatives
Powered by money and influence
And cowardice.
Filed under POETRY
Will you write to me
Of fallow fields
Or bounteous yields
Of herb and spice
To brighten the palate
Or bury the dead?
Which is better stated
In a letter created
To satisfy the need
To get a bead
On where we are headed?
What would your words mean to us?
What would it matter?
Keep your words off the page
Or I ‘ll be mad as a hatter
Before all is said
And I am done.
No letters, please.
No promises.
No warnings.
Better to believe it all
Will look better tomorrow.
Filed under POETRY
annarino writes 