Sandals In Winter
A grove of trees
she plays inside
the protective circle
her family dead from disease
she can forget
for a moment inside
the grove of trees
in her sweat shirt and jeans
and sandals meant
for summertime.
Tigers and lions, and where were you?
Last night I had a dream. In my dream, you were away from me. I was alone, at home. I looked out the window.
I saw a giant tiger in the backyard. I couldn’t believe my eyes. As I watched, I saw baby tigers approach. What a beautiful family, I thought to myself.
I looked away, to call you, to see. I looked back again and I saw a small lion. He grabbed the throat of the tiger with his jaws. He held on. The tiger struggled awhile, then gave up.
He was dead. And the baby tigers were gone.
And that was all.
And nobody else saw.
The Hallway
I walk
an endless hallway.
The floor is broken glass.
I keep walking.
Keep moving
Waiting for the end.
There is no end.
Just darkness.
This hallway is familiar.
I can't quite place it.
In the vast vault of my memory,
It's a hazy blur.
Perhaps a school
One of the many
I've passed through in my life.
I think I might see
the bleak grey lockers.
It's unclear.
My mind cares not about the walls
About the hall
Only the darkness ahead.
I start to feel it
in my feet
The pain. The glass.
I want to stop.
To end the burden.
But I keep walking.
Until the violent shrill
Of my morning alarm
Makes me all too aware
I am dreaming.
The illusion crumbles.
The hallway falls away.
And I am safe in my bed.
I wish I could grasp what it means.
Light
Glazed whispers like cloth
across a sober pond.
A chorus of mantras buried under the surface.
On moonlight's polish
the tide rises.
Leaving nothing but the past behind...
never again
i had a dream
when i was with him
the man i have been with
ever since
i left the one
who left
me
in pieces
of broken girlhood
i have a dream
that never again
will a man
take what is his
whenever he feels like it
for i have a dream
that my body is sacred
never to be touched
by the dirty hands
of a scheming cop
never again
a daring statement
by one who has never
been taught
to say no
by anyone
but herself
Impossibly Possibly
Life long dream,
One that only fails time and time again,
So simple yet completely undoable.,
~
A dream of only wanting to make those around happy,
To see their smiling faces and hear their boastful laughter is what fills hearts with content and peace,
Something one longs to feel always feel,
Yet prays they can cause, a never ending symphony,
How one cannot feel joy yet wishes to spread is quite the mystery,
An ironic conundrum,
~
Perhaps it’s a silly dream,
Wanting to help everyone see the light
While residing in the dark abyss seems completely irrational,
Yet all of ones life, this is all one could ever truly want to make become reality,
More than just a dream,
It’s a life long yearning..
~Emily Marie Stevens~
Motion
It’s hard to stay
Woke when I’m
Sleep. Eyes faithfully
Shut to the horrors
I’m witnessing
Each time I
Close my eyes.
Dream filled
Nightmares I’m
Loving the time,
Each one worse
Than the next to
Fuel my dead
Imagination for
Inspiration. I’m
Full and the
Screams stop long
Enough for me
To wake up,
Look around, and
Hold myself so
Tight to the ground.
Never thinking
I wanted to stop
The motion of
Imagination for
Peace of mind.
Hair
There once was a girl in Barbados
Who envied her sister’s hair.
She herself wasn’t pretty,
As plain as a pear,
Oh, but she wished herself fair.
In town she heard tale of a witch
Who lived somewhere south in her lair.
It was said she had magic
Most others would scare,
But a wish she could grant, if you dared.
So off in the night the girl went
And found the old witchdoctor’s lair.
“Oh please,” said she,
“My own hair is dull,
And my sister’s cannot be compared!”
The witch coughed a throaty old laugh
And winked an odd eye at her plea,
“Bring her,” said she,
“It’s a simple revision,
If you give me a proper fee.”
“I’ve nothing to give,” said the girl in tears,
“I’ve no gift nor coin to offer.
Is there anything else,
Some food, or some wine,
I can give you instead to be proper?”
“Never mind gifts,” the witchdoctor answered,
“I’ve no use for coins or meals.
Some wine would be nice,
But not for this vice,
When you come, I will ask for my deal.”
So back the girl went to her sister
And sought out the witch the next night.
“What are we doing?”
Asked the dear sister,
“It’s cold and these woods are a fright!”
They soon found the witchdoctor’s hut,
And saw she made two straw dolls.
“These are for you,”
The witchdoctor chuckled,
“Now watch as I fix your qualm!”
They jumped as she tore the straw heads
And switched the dolls’ bodies anew.
Their own heads followed suit,
And they screamed a high tune,
Throats crooked and stitched all askew.
“Now for my fare,” the witchdoctor heckled,
“You’ve gotten your beautiful hair.
All I ask is your service,
From now till the End,
Until Death meets me, if He dares.”
Layers.
Last night a dream came to me
In layers
Peeling me, plucking me
Like a rose
It was a recurring nightmare
That had come to me
Twice before
In this world
I “woke up” and told my friends of this wretched dream
I woke up once more not sure
Of what was real
Zev’s wish Pt. 1
A violent breeze on a clouded day
A black shore and obsidian sea
I lay on infinity
Surrounded by obsidian eternity
But my eyes remain closed
For they shall not open
Lights bursts through the clouds
A divine body seeps through
I do not know how, but I know it is you
Oh, magnificent sovereign
I feel your pale fingers grab my face
I see your green light through the back of my eyelids
Magnificent sovereign
I do not know how
But surely, it must be you
My face begins to burn from the heat
I cannot bear to hide my pain
But I wish to see you