Terrifying the First Time
fingers trail, mistrals gust
against filament, lignin, and petal
the softest is the most frightening
phantom feelings, vulnerability
the psyche opens
worry and anxiety
hushed
a break in the torrent
peace and bliss
found in the new
elevation freedom
love terrifying
the first time
Mirrored
a mirrored pond
twilight glass
a paned scream
silent echolalia
the looking glass
reflects what comes
what was
Striped
orange striped bumblebee
wears her team’s colors; spring’s
number one fantastic
Condense and Douse
cumulus darken
condense and douse
suffering is lessened
when the sky weeps
within atomic depths
photons enliven
entwined electrons
excite, come undone
dance invisible, stitch
with wave and particle
an arch-iris cloak
without the rainbow there is no end to grief
so dance in the color, hue, and diversity
3 Sister Life
Just a little lifestyle tidbit. Last year, I planted a 3 sister's garden. The 3 sisters consist of squash, runner beans, and corn. They are called sisters because they grow in symbiosis, helping each other along the way.
I chose to plant Scarlet Runners because they are usually pretty fast growers and the flowers are also edible. These are the beans typically picked to grow in classrooms. Pickled Scarlet Runner beans with the flowers are super delicious, but be sure to pick the beans young for this, and before they turn purple become poisonous when they are uncooked.
The beans fix nitrogen in the soil; the squash shade the soil and limit weed growth, and the corn offers support for the beans. Other than a lot of water, once this garden is established, it has relatively carefree upkeep and some pretty good yields. The 3 sisters are also very happy with grey and barrel water. This years iteration is already off to the growing races.
What you are looking at in the above picture is a Jack-O-Lantern from last year's harvest. We just through it out in the garden and let it over winter. The birds feasted on the seeds and the elements and sun bleached and dried it out. We gave it a final warrior's send off in the Spring, in our fire pit, along with the dried corn husks. Smelled lovely and the ash made it onto the garden as fertilizers for this year. The circle of life a la 3 sisters. We might have also made a Anakin Skywalker joke or two.
Hard Lines
hard lines
on a dry terrain
a clear, but harsh view
of the land
judgement
karma tattooed
upon her face
Gentle
gentle breeze tousles
locks of gold; whispers
caresses, fertile terrain
out of sight; readily felt
our secret, quiet lover
***
Words and poetry are my own. Images are my own and/or a result of AI collaboration with Grok. Terrifying the First Time and Condense and Douse are published in Domesticate the Heaves. Mirrored, Striped, Hard Lines, and Gentle were first published on the X social media platform. Domesticate the Heavens and other titles are available in paperback or digital through amazon and your local libraries and bookstores. Click on any title below to further explore and support my writing.