5 Poems, by Heather Boob

Inspired by fragments-of-fragments of Sappho's poetry


Let me tell you this —
When your hand touches my face
a burst of electricity
is transmitted
from solar plexus
expanding upward
and out
through to my heart
like a sun dog
catching rays
behind cirrus compilation
refracting and shining
suspended diamond dust
back down to earth —
A gift to the iris of daylight.

= = =


Love shakes my heart . . .

In kindness —
from a stranger’s smile
passing on a littered street

In gratitude —
of generosity giving
with no expectation of receipt

In warmth —
from worn hands
opening to every embrace

In words —
over hot coffee
steam rising

= = =


Do you remember
the smell of summer
as autumn leaves fall?
When you were still
just a child
and the moment
was all that you had —
The feeling of innocence
when you didn’t know
what innocence was?

Do you remember
falling from your bicycle
for the first time
then getting back on
and riding further and faster
because the feeling of freedom
topped the fear of falling
a second time around?

Do your remember
when time seemed to
stand still —
when the second hand
on the turning dial
almost seemed to hesitate
and you, sitting there
willing it to stay
or wishing it to leap forward
into the future?

= = =


I confess

I do not know what to do.
At my age,
If you are squeamish
Day in, day out
Picking flowers
May be the only remedy

= = =


The most devoted of friends
Don’t ask me what to wear
A purple ribbon . . . a purple kerchief
A fish basket and oar
Together we live in
Silliness and sorrow
With
No complaint