Poetry

[Adena]

The River

We went swimming
in the evening
together.

The greedy sea
devoured
our feet.

You asked me if I loved you.
I think I smiled.
I said yes.

The truth is
I never loved you.
Not that way.

I only loved those days
we spent
at the river.

I only loved the way
you made me feel
wanted.

I only loved the bay
and the feeling
of freedom.

[Adena]

Abortion

Sometimes
when I put my hand
on her stomach
I can feel
a flicker
of pain
moving inside her
where once something else had been

a life

and I hate
the idea
that she had that abortion

her baby
could
have been
something amazing

I hate thinking
that she wasted that life

[Adena]

Illusion
for Dad

It's an illusion
to think I can keep my mind off you
It's not something
I'll ever be willing to do.
I'm happy
for it to be just us two
It's so warm and pleasing
to know that you'll help me come through.

[Adena]

Candles

Give me light, give me light
The candlestick glows bright
In the dead of the dark
In the silence of the night.

Give me silence, give me strength
I fear the end is coming near
Teach me how to place my feet
around the trap I know is here.

Save me from their grief and anger
Lead me now into the light
The wolf is softly calling
In the silence of the night.

Show me truth, bring me peace
I cannot sleep while you are gone
I beg you, guide my way
I will be with you before long.

Give me light, give me light
It is the truth that I must write
Let us walk, hand in hand
With the spirits of the night.

[The Wolf]

You are weak-kneed, maddening creatures.
Your feeble attempts at trapping me make me laugh in my howls.
I am a wolf, and wolves are not mocked.
I'll finish your flocks and silence your growls.

You are stupid. That simple. You have no clue.
A wolf's heart is closed - no weakness at all.
Catch me you can, but you know you will not.
I'll spit in your face and I'll leave you to fall.

And when we meet face to face, I will not give.
It is either the wolf or the fool that will live.

[Adena]

Rolling In The Mud

Had I been able to determine what your sentiments really were
I would not have learned to oink just for the sake of somebody's thoughts
My skin is white, not pink; I was born with a human face
And yet, like a pig, I was compelled to cover myself with muck.

[Adena]

Memories

Silence
fragments
words
from your room
the slam
of a door late at night
you started
broke your chain of words
you heard
I know you heard

the next morning
blushing
before you went to work
in a hurry
you would not
look
at me
you made sure you looked away

blind
always
to what was right
under
your nose
I think
I have a right to despise you
I think
I have a right
to wish
you were not my mother

[Adena]

Handprints

It happened again, I see.
The handprint exposed as your daughter slept.
She was tossing - turning - crying
unaware that we were there.
I put a hand out to stroke her back
and she revealed the mark you left.
Your son was in the next room
playing before bed
My friend asked what had happened
and this is what he said.
'Mama 'sleep in bedroom
My sister go to wake
Mama very angry
Say sister make mistake.'
I asked him where his brothers were
He said he'd no idea
I tried in vain to call them
but none of them were here.
What do you think you're doing?
She's five, for Goodness' sake!
You're like the fire that burns the land
Destruction in your wake.

[Adey]

Adena. I'm no practised poet, but I can see that your poetry is exploring some 'difficult' areas right now. I admire your bravery/honesty, even if the results can be a little unsettling.. I'm not qualified to make the obvious Plath connection, but I feel those echoes. Good luck with your development of the form.

[Adena]

Longing

live a loveless life
loving only what is lost
life in silence, sharp and strong
leaves love freezing in its frost.

[Adena]

The Child

Late at night
the child hides
waiting for her father
innocent eyes.
She lies in bed
covering her face
feeling the pain
her life is a lie.
She hears him coming
shutting the door
she curls up tight
and begins to fly.
She cannot stop him
she cries alone
when he has left
she falls from the sky.
The next day she wakes up
and pretends nothing changed
but she is broken.
Innocence dies.

[Adena]

Remembrances
for I. - I owed you one

Seventy years ago
your mother got off the train.
She had red ribbons in her hair
and babies on the brain.

Sixty years ago
you were removed and led away
to a family of the church
with whom you were to stay.

Fifty years ago
you met that handsome man
he was one in a million
took your life in giant hands.

Forty years ago
you broke somebody's heart
the first of many times you beat her
that day would be the start.

Thirty years ago
you became possessive - angry - stoned.
Your children didn't dare to ask
but hubby left you bruised and boned.

Twenty years ago
your grand-daughter was born
you left her mother in the cold
and treated her with scorn

Thirteen years ago
you unpacked your box of tricks
Cold - ruthless - silent
you beat a little girl to bits

Ten years ago
your oldest daughter broke
unable to keep going
she died under your yoke.

Not long enough ago
we put you in the ground.
May your soul rot in the underworld
and truth and love abound.

[Adena]

The Fake

This is silence.
This is delusion.
Once again.
She is in over her head.

And though she feels safe
She can't help asking
what will happen
if the rope breaks?

She let herself do it.
She got attached again.
And now she is waiting
to be thrown away.

Until the day
that she is safe
in someone's arms...
she will always wait.

[Adena]

Harmony

Bring your songs to the party
We want to hear your melodies
Let us stand up beside you
and sing with you in harmony
Let's all stand and sing together
against anger, fear and hate
Let song be our weapon
to soothe the irate
Let the music relax you
and take you away
These songs are our weapons.
Carpe diem! Seize the day!

[Adena]

Preacher

You condemn me and my actions
You allege that I'm headed for hell
You say that I'm a sinner
That it's my fault that I fell.
And yet you have no morals
You cheat, you steal, you lie
You couldn't stay faithful to save your life
But that's all by the by.