deepundergroundpoetry.com
Sempiternal
today my mind and I visited
the emerald grass
of my grandmother’s yard;
its surface pregnant with moisture
and waxy, like my jelly shoes -
though the sound of them
rubbing together
sets off waves of goosebumps;
popsicles on sensitive teeth
in the Florida sun
(inside the house
with its always dusty,
bare-vinyl floors;
dark to keep the heat
at bay ~ windows open,
the breeze one millimeter
above hot and stale -
box fans quietly rattling
against the table’s shiny surface
comforting, that sound
the children are somewhere,
~they know better than to be
anywhere
they ain’t allowed~
the women gather around
to gossip about
those unlucky enough
to have missed today’s
court session)
Mimi was a beautiful woman,
before she made the choices
that forever separated her
from herself -
thick wavy hair,
liquid midnight
down her back;
olive skin, a gift
from the Blackfeet;
exotic
and not an inch over 5’2”
“No one wants to tangle
with your Mama”,
my dad would say proudly;
I often wonder how
he could have missed
the rage behind her smile -
her perfect teeth holding back
daggers
cushioned in the shade
on my bed of soft lawn,
I can see her through the window;
she is laughing, mouth open
head back;
her eyes twinkling
full of fire and sly smiles;
she played dumb to keep peace
but she couldn’t hide
her slick humor
she brought me cantaloupe,
cut in half, seeds scooped out
smoothing my hair -
raven as her own;
our matching eyes of onyx,
murky irises, unreadable
in the shade
I was hers
she snapped a picture
with her brand new
Polaroid camera;
I was sad she didn’t
use the flash -
I loved the burned boxes
I held that photograph of her
for far longer
than she ever resembled it ~
I wanted to believe
in forever;
but you and I know
by now
nothing ever is
...except, perhaps
love
a choice, a verb
not lust or admiration,
not even respect or adoration
holds the cosmos’ attention
the way we do when we
decide
Intention is sempiternal;
it is everything
I have let go
finally
of that moment
whereby I defined her
without accepting
the whole of her
and all that remains
is
here,
now
resting
in the lush peace
of my grandmother’s yard,
listening to my mother laugh
the emerald grass
of my grandmother’s yard;
its surface pregnant with moisture
and waxy, like my jelly shoes -
though the sound of them
rubbing together
sets off waves of goosebumps;
popsicles on sensitive teeth
in the Florida sun
(inside the house
with its always dusty,
bare-vinyl floors;
dark to keep the heat
at bay ~ windows open,
the breeze one millimeter
above hot and stale -
box fans quietly rattling
against the table’s shiny surface
comforting, that sound
the children are somewhere,
~they know better than to be
anywhere
they ain’t allowed~
the women gather around
to gossip about
those unlucky enough
to have missed today’s
court session)
Mimi was a beautiful woman,
before she made the choices
that forever separated her
from herself -
thick wavy hair,
liquid midnight
down her back;
olive skin, a gift
from the Blackfeet;
exotic
and not an inch over 5’2”
“No one wants to tangle
with your Mama”,
my dad would say proudly;
I often wonder how
he could have missed
the rage behind her smile -
her perfect teeth holding back
daggers
cushioned in the shade
on my bed of soft lawn,
I can see her through the window;
she is laughing, mouth open
head back;
her eyes twinkling
full of fire and sly smiles;
she played dumb to keep peace
but she couldn’t hide
her slick humor
she brought me cantaloupe,
cut in half, seeds scooped out
smoothing my hair -
raven as her own;
our matching eyes of onyx,
murky irises, unreadable
in the shade
I was hers
she snapped a picture
with her brand new
Polaroid camera;
I was sad she didn’t
use the flash -
I loved the burned boxes
I held that photograph of her
for far longer
than she ever resembled it ~
I wanted to believe
in forever;
but you and I know
by now
nothing ever is
...except, perhaps
love
a choice, a verb
not lust or admiration,
not even respect or adoration
holds the cosmos’ attention
the way we do when we
decide
Intention is sempiternal;
it is everything
I have let go
finally
of that moment
whereby I defined her
without accepting
the whole of her
and all that remains
is
here,
now
resting
in the lush peace
of my grandmother’s yard,
listening to my mother laugh
Published 27th Oct 2020
Author's Note
Written for the word of the week thread: Sempiternal
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 6
reading list entries 5
comments 10
reads 146
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
27th Oct 2020 5:41am
That was so touching and sweet, Luna ❤️. Very evocative writing! It's a vivid and heartfelt recollection... And a beautiful memorial to your grandmother. Great writing, as per your usual 🙏
27th Oct 2020 5:43am
27th Oct 2020 11:50am
Holy Moses, you went the extra mile on the Word challenge. I've read it several times without a hiccup or a stutter. It's about as perfect as story telling gets.
27th Oct 2020 4:12pm
27th Oct 2020 2:17pm
Stunning work, Luna. It truly evokes a nostalgic emotion encircling that which created peace and safety within ourselves.
27th Oct 2020 4:19pm
I used to think enlightenment happened in a moment of blinding truth, like Paul on the road to Damascus lol; but I’m starting to realize it’s rather a collection of small realizations and measures of acceptance. Thank you so much for supporting my journey 💜.
27th Oct 2020 3:10pm
Beautifully fulsome dimensions, intimate detail, measured voice, proportional, harmonious and aching with feeling. Astounding work.
27th Oct 2020 4:20pm
1st Nov 2020 2:50am
1st Nov 2020 2:51am
