Month: March 2019

Human Dreamer

.Reading time less than 1 minute.

The poet’s soul bleeds words onto the page. I believe our most powerful words flow when that bleeding comes on behalf of others. I am a Human Dreamer. I dream of a day when we love our global neighbors as the human family they are.

I
am
human…
born of earth
and water
into air
to breathe
and form thoughts that reach
to clouds
floating
free of walls

collecting
into raindrop tears
that fall
into
closely gathered pools

pains
mingled

where
collected fluid
overflows
and
penetrates the soil
pleading with the ground
to swallow whole
the barrier
that restrains
paths
imagined
by
my
human
Dreamer

~

#DefendDACA

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in poetry & free verse. Bookmark the permalink.

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Fins and Feathers

.Reading time 1 minute.

shall we travel together?
not back, but ahead
yet, look back
regretting neither float nor flight
that led fin and feather
to this place
look back and consider
we collected nothing
but memory
for all things pass
except love
even the shells we collected on the beach
filling our mesh bags
cracked and crumbled
we shook and sprinkled the remnants
through the gaps
over the chicken feed
the hens laid prolifically
we ate all the eggs
collecting nothing
but memory
”How long does a kiss stick to a cheek?” he asked.
”Forever, silly,” I answered.
even the cheek will fade to dust
as will our fins and feathers
only love will linger
now, let’s swim and soar, crossing
rivers deep and canyons wide
sojourners
just passing
carrying memories in gossamer packages
spun by the living motions
of our fins and feathers
in float and flight
the love that lingers
bound forever to us, tight

~

Words and Photography ©2019 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in poetry & free verse.

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Honey Bees

.Reading time less than 1 minute.

In my corner of the world, the clocks have moved forward and the weather is following. Welcome Spring…

bees
calmed by smoke
allow the theft
gather the honey
in pots
melt the wax
add the wick
light the candle
it smokes
and
calms
the
bees

~

Words and Photography ©2018 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in poetry & free verse.

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Life Answered

.Reading time 1 minute.

Life answered in the simplest ways, abundant

the velvety richness of the chocolate bundt cake
garnished with hand-whipped cream
and raspberries
baked for a great aunt’s birthday
by a daughter
watching a daughter, she knows as mom,
care for her grandmother
who is fighting to be able
to eat chocolate bundt cake together next year
and the year after

Life answered…

in the soft petals of flowers
in the persistent rubs of a loving cat
in the weight of feet of snow removed
with the orange-scooped shovel
by the strapping son, too soon a man
in the margins edged with ink and lace
in the intoxicating rhythm of the hang drums
ringing from the mountainside
in songs shared, life’s playlist, revealing
inside, by the fire, glass of wine and book in hand
pleasures so simple
even Henry Miller could not complain
in NCAA basketball games won, or lost
it doesn’t matter to me
provided my youngest is cheering with me
in co-conspiratorial conversations
with the writer-son who love/hates writing
and gets it done
in the shared laughs over entirely inappropriate things
yes. please.
and the voice who says, “you’re not alone”

in the velvety richness of chocolate bundt cake shared

Life answered…

abundantly

~

Words and Photography ©2019 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in poetry & free verse.