Joan McInerney
Butterfly
Wrapped in ashen clouds
pale shrouds of sadness.
Retracing each dimension of
my heart yet finding no refuge.
My head bent recounting
all the days of my life.
Lost in this blur, this landscape.
Where am I? Where can I go?
Wanting only one fine thought to
fill this empty haze of hours.
One fine contour, touch, color,
one fine tone to breach the silence.
Who stole my sparkling sky
leaving only memories?
What remains is only minute after
minute of more and more loss.
Always searching to find harbor in
oceans where waves rise to heaven.
Within deep quiet, small awakenings begin.
Fragile butterfly…radiant blue winging up up.
Live Oak Boughs
Boughs build archways as tips
of trees touch each other. What
was shaded green becomes
nocturnal shadow. A crescent moon
hangs from heaven. Light tracing
foliage falls dropping
dusty deep upon ground.
Secrets lie inside edged shadows.
Animals hide under darkness
resounding through night
as leaves rustle. All changing
except this pattern of what
is now formed.
When The Moon Is New
Groping through darkness
knocking everything down.
Down into enormous night
where thoughts unravel.
Memories moan past us as
shadows quiver across walls.
We lie pinned to bed sheets
like captive butterflies.
Dry butterflies, our throats
are brittle, eyes turning
from light. Sore arms reach
for anything soft to hold.
Remembering seasons gone by.
So many lost promises.
This huge moment surrounding us.
Wide awake we wait for the new day.
Nightscape
Fog horns sound though
air soaked in blackness.
All evening long listening
to hiss of trucks, cars.
Shadows brush across walls
as trees trace their branches.
Gathering and waving
together then swaying apart.
While I sleep, stars glide
through heaven making
their appointed rounds in
ancient sacred procession.
Dreams as smooth as rose
petals spill into my mind
growing wild patches in
this dark garden of night.
Almost Asleep
Curling into a question mark
eyes shuttered
lips pursed
hands empty.
Dropping through
long dusty shafts
down into dank cellars.
Leaving behind faded day.
That last cup of sunlight
pouring from fingertips.
Lulled by rattling trains,
sighs of motors.
Bringing nothing but
memory into night.
Now I will untie knots
tear off wrappings opening
wide bundles of dreams.
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