Amputated Moon

Somewhere—in silence—

the rain has gone

evidence of its visit

found in the brown grass

thirsty for it

found in the fog

left against the field

Here—- in silence—

day creeps into existence

silver and soft

hidden deep in the mist

that no breeze stirs

the rain— a dream

fading with the night

Pamela Olson, 11/29/08

Line from “The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson”

edited by Thomas H. Johnson; Poem #338

wanderer inscribed on my palm

journey on the soles of my feet

pushed out of the garden of perfection

the Creator has sent me forth

the simple equations of time and space

linger on the edges of my dreams

the thin veneer of the door

the veiled light through the window

primitive migration pulls at my heart

movement lies within my joints

the twitching of muscles—restlessness

the ordained pathway lies before me

I open my hands— unlatch the window

my feet bare for the holy way

the crooked road lies before me

and I must travel on

Pamela Olson, 11/24/08

For the Monday Mural prompt

by Poefusion

Image by TitaRa2007 “Imagination”

the dreams of flight

have abandoned my nights

the frantic swimming through heavy air

close to the danger of the ground

some nameless fear

always close behind me

faster and faster I’d fly

but never quickly enough

still my heart pounded

still my breath was forced

maybe courage has taken hold

deep in my brain stem

branching out from the amygdala

a bitter sweet almond of emotion

formed by repeated trust

the tape played over and over again

the neurons drumming

the learning curve arcing

until I simply know it— in my bones

I can turn and face the terror

I can stop

and simply gaze into its eyes

Pamela Olson, 11/16/08

Written for the prompt “courage”

from One Single Impression

Painting by Rick Mobbs

now that I know

I don’t make the earth turn

or tip along its axis

now that I know

I can’t make the sun rise

or the stars appear

now that I know

all this is out of my hands

not in my control

I’ll just retire

to some quiet corner

and rest awhile

Pamela Olson, 11/11/08

O Moon

bend down

just a little further

and lend me

your night-time garb

All night

in my dreams

you’ve caressed my cheek

and cooled my brow

with your silky touch

I have

imagined your

moonlight gown

falling along my legs

brushing against my bare feet

Let me

rise from my bed

draped in your light

soft— and silently

clothed in gauzy luminosity

Pamela Olson, 11/10/08

this is only a stone

carried deep in a pocket

hefted in my palm

fingers forming

another pocket

an added weight

a slight burden

it rests there

cold and dark

like a wintery night

a memory disguised as rock

memory of seashore

of sand and crying gulls

inside this stone

breathes the salt air

the sand sloughs wetly

beneath my feet

a universe shifts

a galaxy upturns

ready and patiently waiting

a small bit of contained chaos

whirling planets of atoms

nothing here is static

there is always a chance

remember— there is always

a chance

Pamela Olson, 11/2/08

For One Single Impression’s

prompt “Disguise”