Chics in Wheelchairs

On the boob tube a comedian guffaws
"I have high standards
no chics in wheelchairs or ones who use canes"

In a meeting, a woman shared
"I deserve more than to be with a man
who walks with a cane."

I happened to be leading that meeting
she, so self absorbed didn't connect the dots
when, at the end, I rose with the aide of my cane.

I can't fault them, even I
say in the recesses of my mind
you're broken, unwanted...

They do not know that in the flash of a headlight
my life was altered from harmony to staccato rhythms
I know that I am still whole inside...

except for the hole where I bury my doubts, loneliness and fears.
A.S.
4/23/2011

Filters as Shields

Her face twists into a veil
she, an empath, a clairvoyant too
catching trails of thought
feels her way into a room.

The clambering tambourine
of your disquieted mind is too strong
buffering as best she can
adipose tissue, a painted fan

She sees a hole which you stuff with people places and things
braces herself, careful not to be sucked right in
knowing full well it is meant to be there
Mind races, pulse quickens, you're scared.

Part the curtains or sea, which can never stay still
The hole's not broken don't fix it, your conduit wails.
Each soul's not perfect, each egg has a crack
The hole is really a treasure map.

Instead of yearning, you might sit and pray
or if that's not your bag list ten good things you ate today
unimportant the method, you bring it forth
the hole is there to guide you, like a tuning fork.

A.S. 4/10/2011

Winter Minutes

It's quiet again
friends come and go
now it's just me
and the snow

Icicles melted together
form a curtain
I want to be them
connected, clear, patient

Constantly in contact
with the mother
recycling and always giving
nourishing wisdom in harmony

In the big houses across the lane
smoke wafts from chimneys
Here the heat rises from the floor
which is cold my cottage rests on stilts

I will open my book and read
another's thoughts for a while...

A.S. 1/16/11

Aquarium of Dreams

Submerged inside my Aquarium of Dreams
Fortune Cookie Fishies come apart at the seams
Bright coral reef harbors newfound riches
Amethyst creatures jump out to kiss witches

They too are here, on aquatic broomsticks they glide
Dipping and flipping racing seahourse and snail
Only pausing enthralled by a Dolphin's sweet tale
They weave secrets of ocean into their hair

All high from the thrill that they don't have to share
The Mermaids breathe love-songs into the air
These sisters comb though my dreams, make sure they're fair
Splashing aqua blue light into the creases

A Whale caught my eye and told me earth's secrets
We both had a good belly laugh which caused a great wave
The Whale meant no harm so the sea tribe she saved
We laughed a bit lighter just enough for choppy waters

Until we were hungry twas seafood we ordered.
A.S. 1/6/11

Turtle Up

Turtle upturned
cracked shell
no way out

How much deeper
can the Turtle
retreat?

Under the sea
100 years of
collecting sand,
a shell is born

Inside a soft
creature
takes refuge

At the same time
A great beast
driven by drink

breaks my shell
and I am contained
within

floating

waiting, praying, working
toward regrowth
A.S. 12/30/10

A Few Weeks In

Pain robs me of sleep
palpating my aches
hurting my healing
ripping open my sleep
and knocking, no pounding
on my nerve centers
ice, pills when they let me
still it continues to scratch
no, thrash at me while
I lay, supine, two broken ankles
broken pelvis. Nurse yanking
and pulling me from side to side
she stuffs a plastic bed pan
change the chucks or wedge
ice into hard to reach places
I cry inwardly but ache until
tin tastes invade my essence.
12/17/09

Don't Take my Leg

Inside the Tulip, the red ones
is a black center
with yellow shining through
they open
I'm, no we are
not ready to lose a petal.
03/07/10