The Eldest

 Our family's eldest

carries a reminder

of a childhood fall

within the layers of skin

upon the knee

That hit first.

Some thoughtful days

might find her

appreciating that

particular sensation

manipulating the

old shards

guessing at each

shape and size

within their

self carved caves.

Is she remembering

the fall?

The moment?

Taking stock

of all the injuries?

Or, my guess,

reminding herself

that she's a survivor.

~KG March 29, 2021

Smithereens

Saturated limbs,

embracing the sky.

Carpeted, covered, encased,

in thick, lush, sodden, moss.

Flowers of lichen,

catching their rain share.

Then ice rained down

upon our tree town.

Then again.

"Stay strong!"

"Hold on until the sun rises!"

Messages sent

via crown and root.

Crashes, booms, thuds, cracks

Old soldiers uprooted.

Young hybrids, topped,

toppled, sheared, eviscerated,

delimbed, trashed, 

SMITHEREENS

Soon, we'll welcome the Spring

the healing, mending, scarring,

regrowth and rotting.

Then we'll honor and feed,

the survivors,

by burying the dead.

~KGM 03/03/2021

What Do You Miss?

 I miss the anticipation.

The anticipation of a new day,

A new week,

A new month,

A new season.

I miss the anticipation.

Of a friend's company,

Of the unexpected,

Of spontaneity,

Of normalcy.

I miss you.

Love, K

January 25, 2021

Crisp Sheet of Paper

On a crisp sheet of
paper
I drew me
Then
with my scissors
I clipped out
the aches
the old unhealed
wounds
That Piece that always
tries too hard
and the one that never tries . . .
Then
I was gone
~KGM Sept 2020

Hope

I sweep the kitchen tiles
As ancient Hope dog
Mostly blind
Dogs my scented shadow's movement
Smelling the day
I've swept into the air

Ancient Terriers

I lay in bed, under the covers
My ancient terrier, Hope
Traverses the mountain ranges
Of my limbs.

She once conquered the barriers.
They were no match
for her agility.
No more.

Each effort to cross even my shins
Results in limb failure
She and I, lack confidence in the muscles and sinew
Unfettered exuberance is a distant fleeting memory

Yet dreams!
You and I, ancient terrier,
We have our dreams
Dreams that find us scaling heights and obstacles galore.

Hope! Come! Join me!
Let us find a way to keep those dreams
Those urges . . . close to our hearts.
We are one, we share, we love, we live.

The Couch on 21st Street

She weaves
Amongst the remains
of my weedy slumber

Nudging old arguments
Insisting on review
Making me see

There Are

There are
Those days
when I
feel
all the aches and pains from
The usual and unusual
bumps and bangs from living.

Then there are the days I feel ashamed.

Ashamed
for words I've said
       words I didn't say
       not standing up for another
       reacting With every emotion
but without the facts.
       
And as if that were not enough shame
More is offered
for every forgotten kindness--
the essential oil
of social lubrication.

The Drive

A Thursday Zena Bethel Drive

Fields

of stubble

fresh turned earth

Fence trees

just woke

no brush

come as you are

Small dark birds

Undulating

Throbbing

swirling

switching

Clouds

Enormous

yet floating

sometimes 

leaking.

KGM 9-2018