September 2021
Author's Note: Interpersonal interactions have been on my mind lately, as has the spector of another round of deaths from COVID-19. These poems from my first book a clear day in october seem apropos to life-changes with those two topics in mind.
gemstone
you are hard she said hard headed hard hearted hard won wedge and mallet struck and something more of the rough brittle exterior fell away a tiny sparkling facet rewarding the blow you are hard she said hard driving hard hitting hard handed another plane of cleavage yielded to her relentless pressure again the prism flashed you see yourself as common stone but you will be the center jewel in my crown she held me to the light smiled and lifted the mallet again
Originally published in a clear day in october
unstrung
when the day ends pulls a shade down on the sun of all you are i will play your song and then put my guitar to rest each silver string released tucked away in coils of remembering and i will wait find ways to pass the time without the music of you with me when the day comes that you go and leave me all unstrung
Originally published in a clear day in october
©2021 j.lewis
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