Monday, August 16, 2010

for a while in haiti

for a while
it was just too terrible
to live inside the sharp edges
of my skin
so i went away-

for a while i was the swelling
in the gecko's neck-

for a while i was the blur
of hummingbird wings-

for a while i was waxy palm leaves
and ripe fruit-

for a while
i sunk into the sounds
that made no sense-
the singing and wailing and screaming-
the rooster call
and barking dogs
and the blare of radio distortion-

for a while i was anywhere but here.

then i slipped into the blackness
of my own heart
and found myself
a foreign country
speaking a strange tongue
gesturing wildly to make myself
understood.

i found myself searching for
a familiar road-
something not covered in
dust and suffering-
something soft and cool-
something beneath this fever dream-

something like your voice
speaking my name-
speaking words i can understand-
calling me home.

7 comments:

  1. im speaking your name right now baby. counting down the days ...

    awesome poem. love it.

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  2. Praying you find an equilibrium. Be well . . .

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  3. the lord is wrapping his arms around you momma!

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  4. dave: i hear you. thank god i hear you.

    sarah: it's a hard place to be, but i'm still glad i'm here.

    danny: yes. i know. thanks honey.

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  5. Your poet soul and its longings are precious. God speed to you, Terri.

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  6. no words. just {hug} and hold on tight.

    how is it that i miss you so much when we've never even met?

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  7. cheryl: thank you for that. i need all the godspeed i can get.

    kirsten: yes, that's odd isn't it? i miss you too. thank for peeking in.

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