Emeralds (Poem 121)

Maple

Bowing over the wooden balcony railing, where my cat perches, statue-still, whiskers and ears forward, concentrating on his busy, bushy-tailed nemesis

Celery

Lonely and limp in my refrigerator, where you tucked it in the crisper, planning to spread it thickly with cream cheese to accompany your lunch

Lawn

Watered by the family downstairs, so when all other grass grows crisp and drab, two dark-eyed boys can play baseball with their father on warm days, and organize complex battles when the evenings draw long

Jealousy

Then there was the one who spent so much time enraged over all the affairs he was convinced I had, that I came to believe my loyalty was misplaced 

Sweater

Stretched out cotton--more comfortable than attractive, chosen many years ago from a farmer's market stall--which warms me even now with memories sweeter and softer than the finest cashmere 

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Emeralds (Poem 121)

Poem 120: Earlier Now, the Sun

Earlier now, the sun

finds her rest

on a chaise

of plated silver

veins running the 

horizon's full length,

razor's edge 

traced in violet, deep

as an equatorial sky.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 120: Earlier Now, the Sun

Poem 119: Trespassing

Slip unnoticed under the fence,

And sprawl in the tall grass

For a while, panting and laughing

With the exhilaration unique

To young people ignoring

A No Trespassing sign.

Never meant for swimming, that lake,

Which (of course) makes it covetable

As a cold, crisp, honey-sweet slab

Of watermelon on a Death Valley day.

Overhead, you see, the stars seem 

To be spinning backward, unspooling

Their spider's silk stories, though

You, pulling off and tossing aside

Clothing as you run

Lakeward, barefoot and free,

See only their dim reflection

In the still smooth surface

Of midnight blue water.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 119: Trespassing

Poem 118: Six a.m.

Deep foggy morning

Mother-of-pearl sky lustrous

Like dragonfly wings

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 118: Six a.m.

Poem 117: Here & There

after spending years 

in the dull

I am coming home

to the delightful

during my time here

in the dark 

I've thirsted 

for cool white light 

homesick for sweetness

I've lost my taste

for bitter disappointment

 

the scenery here

is outstanding

and the people so nice

but emeralds and pearls

will never suit me 

as well 

as a cup of jasmine tea 

in a quicksilver bath 

of moonlight

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 117: Here & There

Poem 116: The Blues

Sapphire   I am born

The audience had not yet assembled

Azul   Your family was my favorite part of you

I watched you drive away, downed a glass of water, and then went bowling

Blu   You could not speak my language, nor I yours

When they laughed at her accent, the sound was so joyful she didn't mind

Bleu   You sick bastard, you had no right

Sometimes it is necessary to judge on behalf of those who rely on us for protection

Turquoise   In the distance, the sea

We will break free, and I will lead you there 

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 116: The Blues

Poem 115: Delta

curious fluttering hand 

     of Mystery pauses 

     distracted 

at the confluence 

of river and sea 

tapping and swirling 

     an impatient design 

waiting for the words 

     to come 

     they never do 

     all at once 

they have always been 

hidden 

     in the elegant 

     alluvial language 

of the delta

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 115: Delta

Poem 114: Bossa Nova

she stretches

long in the sun

golden skin

alight she

stretches long

in the sun her

thin straps

undone her hair

a tight chestnut

braid will burst

into waves tonight

when set

free she stretches

long as a 

cat in the sun

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem 114: Bossa Nova