Here are some more poems I've been working on.
"Fields"
Looking out over the fields
Of destruction
On top of the world
Of metal rolling
Shaken from foot to
Head, gone
Broken, stone
Bodies, pieces
Me
Looking out over the fields
Of destruction
Under the world
Of metal, rolling
Crimson flying high
With hands of loyalty
Filtered through
Blue-eyes, blond hair
Promises of a future
On another’s back
Dismissed from humanity
Looking out over the fields
of destruction
In-caged-metal-bound
Of humanity gone
"Quaking Fear"
Heaviness on me today
I can’t rid myself of despair
I look for God
Wanting to remove the feeling in the air
That is smothering, drowning, blocking my view
I feel tears on the verge of falling
Standing behind my eyes, waiting
Why must they be there?
I should not fear
But I do
Walking through the valley
I do fear evil
And natural disasters
How will I protect the one I love?
Can I protect them?
Is it in my hands?
I know I am not God and I have to let God be God.
Let Him take control, save, spare, protect me, my family, friends
Still it is my job to protect my daughter and I have an overwhelming sense to protect everyone I love
How?
I want to cry to get it over with
I have never lived in fear of tomorrow
Or the next second
Will the next few minutes bring down my world like Haiti?
Will I have to search rubble to find my daughter, friends, students?
Will I have to live not knowing if help is coming? Knowing my family back home are crazy with frustration as they lean towards a TV hoping for news or a glimpse of me and my daughter?
Will I be able to live through the cries for help?
The smells of death.
I want to believe that I can because I have someone stronger with me and in me.
I just don’t know. I want to cry, scream, prepare. All I can do is prepare my lamp.
I can’t even prepare my daughter’s lamp.
I can tell her to prepare her lamp.
Will she?
I pray God, lead me, light my path, guide me. Lead me through the valley so that I fear no evil.
"Lake"
Moving mirror
Reflection distorted under the surface, murky
Deep, dangerous, mysterious
Hidden wildlife
Reflecting blurred, rippled
Images of trees, sky, me
At night
Moon shines leaving
A shimmering black surface
What lies below the surface?
How can I believe in your beauty?
You draw me into you, leaving me guessing
What is below
I believe I can change
You by causing mirrored surface to ripple
Giving me a glimpse of the depth
Wonder, and life teeming below
Only to disappear once settled
I see my reflection again.
Your silence pulls me to you.
Allowing others to sing.
Frogs croaking their love songs,
Birds flocking to feed,
I sit and stare hoping to gain the stillness within
I want to reflect the world as you do
A view Narcissus would envy
I can’t be you.
I would only be another mimic, distortion of you,
Your reflection
I want to have me, new and refreshed.
You only have rain
There is no spring, river, stream
Deceit is what your mirror beauty brings
"Ocean"
I go to you to calm my insides
My brain
With you rhythmic crash sloshing shore
Even if I cry at your edge
You wash my tears and take them out to sea
If I see them again they will be washing my feet
You are changing but constant
Always rocking back and forth
Depths radiating deep blue
Hypnotizing
White crests curled upon itself
Beckon me to come
Crash over me
Pieces of you are out of reach
Withheld
To deep, under pressure, dangerous
Enwrapped in jeweled liquid and silent power
Currents that pull and drag, unseen
Pulls in me
I still sit at your shore
And breath
Nice work, Jess. I love "Ocean." Probably b/c I can relate so much to it. I can picture myself when I read it. How can I post my own writings? Here is one I recently submitted to a local free paper that features creative non-fiction. I don't know if mine will be featured yet. The theme is supposed to be "Sunrise, Sunset" - for the October issue.
ReplyDeleteThe Baltimore I Love
By JG
The sun slowly fades over the harbor—another busy day in Charm City has ended.
The industrious concrete jungle with its imperfections, pollution, and herds of people is now engulfed by the shadows of night.
Gone is the sight of trash that floats in murky water behind a vacant pier. Explicit graffiti has transformed into a beautiful dark silhouette.
Gone are the sounds of drills and jack hammers which woke me before my alarm sounded. The once noisy and crowded streets are but a memory.
Above me, the dark sky is filled with glowing beams from street lights and towering buildings. Their reflections dance across the water in a repeated rhythm—today it is slow and gentle.
In quiet reflection, I walk the short distance to Federal Hill.
As I climb the steep steps, the anxiety of my day slowly begins to dissipate. Reaching my destination, I feel a soft breeze brush across my face—I close my eyes as it carries away my worries one by one.
Standing there, I feel like I am on top of the world.
I follow the path to the well-loved spot which overlooks my city. The concrete jungle of the day has transformed into a beautiful festival of lights from buildings rich in history and culture.
I take a seat on a bench and glance at the older woman sitting beside me. She wipes away a tear and then smiles. Softly she says, “This is the Baltimore I love.”
You can send it to my email jessy@jessicashamburger.com and then I can post it on the blog.
ReplyDeleteI like the imagery and rhythm of the poem.
I just found all of the ones I wrote in high school (when I was quite dramatic and boy crazy!)and some that are more recent. I am in the middle of typing them up and revising them. I will email you a few to post.
ReplyDeleteJG