An Abstract Villanelle

The other day I was reading a poem by Sylvia Plath. Mad Girls Love Song. Then I listened to a YouTube audio of someone reading it. I drifted away, and wrote this poem. I often do compose these sorts of poems on a moment. I’ll share this one. Unedited so beware:)

An Abstract Villanelle

When do they start
and where?
Those surface cracks.
On a vessel.
Unnoticed.
Except by the vessel.

When do they break
and how?
Those surface cracks.

Until
Broken pieces of a vessel
fall.

Let them stay lying there
broken
pieces of vessel
to be discovered
but
on another day.

Ellespeth

Probably Discombobulated Symbolism

Inside the poet is a fire and, depending on where a spark may land, comes the light of an unexpected gift. A silent void anyone can reach differently.

Listening to this song today. John Prine. Just a great songwriter. Thinking about the core values of the words. And “little pictures have big ears” and, what exactly the “gold”is ,today, that might soothe a person. And my grandchildren – being raised with ‘first hand’ values rather than ‘ second hand’ ones no longer relevant for their times.

And I just don’t know. So much shit happening, in our country, the last two week. It’s scary. Yesterday, I helped my grandkids out the pool and bundled them in towels and held them close and thought how difficult the future would be for them and hoped for something better than today.

But I don’t feel hopeful that living in a world – like today’s – will be better for them…

So there –

Ellespeth ❤️

Almost Left Behind – A Poem

ca. 1875 (Edgar Degas)

Almost Left Behind

From inside
where certainty and uncertainty
reside
can be heard the chattering
of dreams beckoning
to a window’s reflection
almost fading away.

Ellespeth

Cheers To Our New Year

Ring Out Wild Bells (Lryics, Alfred Lord Tennyson/Music:Alana Levandoski)

Much love,

Ellespeth❤️

The Unicorn’s Secret – A Poem

The Unicorn’s Secret

To me,
he was a unicorn.

Wasn’t that a unicorn
grazing on my virgin field that day?
Or,
was it just some Zeus
disguised again some other way?

None of that matters
now.
I’ve gazed into his face
a millions times
wondering why.
Today I know
that I will gaze no longer.

Ellespeth

Ring Out, Wild Bells (Tennyson)

“Ring Out, Wild Bells”
(1850) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

At What Expense Victorious

At What Expense Victorious

Sometimes
opposites are true
like when you say
you don’t think you can take anymore
and then
Surprise!
you do

in spades.

Ellespeth

The Pineapple Dilemma – A Poem

Santa Clara County, CA  (day 114 of mostly stay at home)

The Pineapple Dilemma

That
mysterious masked stranger
six feet ahead of me
in the grocery check out line
has those blue puppy dog eyes
some women
like me
could fall for
and
I’d start a conversation with him
except for the pineapple
flown  in from Hawaii
prominently displayed in his basket.
Ordinarily
the perfect time
for a discussion on carbon footprints.
Luckily
his girlfriend appears
saving me from yet another lock-down decision.

Ellespeth

Free Association’s Path – A Poem

We do not need a president ripping open already raw healing wounds and leading us to one side or the other. Well I don’t know about you but I sure as hell don’t need it.

Right now
I just want a Sugar Daddy
to tell me

there, there Baby
everything’s gonna be alright

and I wanna be lost
in some space and time
where I still believed
that could ever be true.

Ellespeth

When I Talk About Home – A Poem

When I Talk About Home

I know

I can’t  describe
the way a 4PM rain smells
at 5PM
when it’s a steam bath
walking home.

Or explain
why
I
rushed to a stage 3 times
to throw my bandana
to Willie Nelson
and how normal that felt.

Or paint for you
fully enough
or write a poesy perfect enough
about how the swamp
from a plane high above
brings salty tears
to the memories in my heart.

I know.

Ellespeth