It came
It came rustling through the mangrove forest
howler monkeys with their megaphone voices
heard long before seen swinging through trees
on sweltering Costa Rica mornings
the pacific surf came rolling
sometimes pounding and sometimes
playfully lapping the black volcanic sands
It came crunching up the pebbled drive
on giant tires of the backcountry jeep
It came relentlessly – the end
of wearing bright pink lipstick and flirty skirts
of late nights with Sangria
she pulled the shades up
saw nothing out of place
the papaya tree hung
a display of ripening fruit
coconuts had fallen to the ground
she knew it was coming
no need for candle-lit lanterns in the garden
no need for folks to shout SURPRISE
Dropping in
I drop in for a taste of your broth
crusty sourdough bread
salt rim margaritas glasses
under the blue sky
of friendship
I tell you
that I used to thrive
in pews of incensed churches
lifted up by kyrie eléison
but that was years ago
I tell you
that these days
I doodle in waiting rooms
breathe the air of sickness and healing
hope to be offered
a 7-day capsule
a simple solution
I tell you
about the white-frocked expert
whose eyes
like those of stained-glass saints
can’t be escaped
my sleeves rolled up
I watch and wait
and wait
without the hallelujah choir
singing Salve Regina Salve
over drinks you listen and say
you’ll be fine
drop in anytime
Playing with Metaphor
His eyes were sunshine
my eyes pooling rain drops
together we were morningdew
moonbeams searching the dark
the torch of peace in the night
cascades of wisteria in purple and white
we were yoke and withers
trotting together to unseen commands
we reveled in each other’s goodness
costumed for the ball of our lives
god and goddess frolicking
parting waters weathering fire and ice