Eleionomae

Image: Fish inside a jellyfish Source: Sixpenceee

HAIKU- Ocean Predicament

A fish’s worst dream To be dissolving away In a jellyfish.

-Skye

Source: shadechamber

The Raven

Great Auntie kept a raven under glass in her dusty living room full of curious things

Mother and I sipped tea there on Saturdays Mother and Auntie sipped and chatted While that long dead bird Stared at me with its glassy eye

I sipped seen not heard Under the gaze of this bird Wishing terribly for another cookie

The ladies gossiped and tutted Auntie even reached over and pinched my cheek “Such a good quiet girl”

The raven just stared at me Seen not heard Sealed in its glass

I imagined it soaring Under a blue mild sky Instead of being seen not heard At this Saturday tea

We had a lot in common That dead bird and me.

-Skye

Artist: Nester Formetera Source:peepchic

The Last Kiss

We came together in the end Lips pressed close Eyes closed to who we had become Just before parting.

-Skye

Photo Credit: Crowd By Misha Gordin Source: Fallowstore

One of the Crowd

Hauling One rough beam after another Head down Looking neither Right Or Left

Hearing the scrape of worn shoes Hearing the effort in ragged breath

But seeing nothing

Moving together Compliant Silent Complicit

Building a pyre To end the world.

Image source: mikemelrinho

Beltane

Be merry and drink to the verdant Lord of the Wood The earth waking as we frolic The Lord waking this very hour As you ravish me beneath the bower.

Dressed in cloth of wood and field The Lord strides out to join the dance Regal in his leafy splendor Wise knowing grin, gaze fierce and tender.

Darkness gathers and the fire licks the sky The Lord is dancing faster now We follow in like cadence Spilling our mead, full of revelry But utterly devoid of prudence.

The morning comes the Lord retreats Back into the misty glen Pious life resumes, muddled we retreat from the ring of stone But how can I forget you dear, nine months hence, Raising our “Merry-begot” alone.

-Skye

Title: The yellow kitchen Artist: Mary Sauer Source: unsubconscious

Our First Place

Just before we left the rental On Howard St

I looked back The clean Swept tiles Lifting a little Here And there

The sink with its hidden leak The stove in its random corner

One wonky cupboard door Chipped Formica

But the extravagant yellow I fell in love

It wasn’t grand It was haphazard and spare But we were happy Here.

-Skye

Source: Winter tree and three crows, by Takeuchi Seiho (1890).

Haiku- In Winter Trees

Crows weigh on branches All wearing winter twilight Chattering with me.

-Skye

On the Platform

I saw you in the train window

I saw her too

You saw nothing your eyes were closed her fingers tangled in your hair

The train pulled free

The sway and screech receding down the line

I stood stolid on the platform forgotten coffee in my hand

Looking at the hole that had been your train

Wondering how long you have been gone.

Fall in the Forest

Trees hurl brittle fire

dry raspy whispers tumble heads and heels

flying along the path

hold my hand sip the air

slipping in from the north

and walk this path with me.

-Skye

Path of colors and light by Dominique Guillaume 

Image: Musician Verdan Smailovic, Also known as the cellist of Sarajevo. 1992 during Bosnian war. Source: aconsilio

HAIKU- The Cellist of Sarajevo

We need more Cellists The bombs drop leaving rubble The dead need music

- Skye

Authors Note: I am deeply concerned about my community, country, and the blue ball we are all careening through space on.  These are perilous times in the United States and in the world.  As in all times of trouble art, music, and writing are places of refuge.  Humans are at their best when creating.  We tell our stories, share our loves, heal our wounded hearts and seek to understand ourselves and others.  We can use our creativity to protest injustices and take on the hard dark parts of ourselves and others.

So, in these uncertain times write, paint, and make music. Use your unique voice to beat back the darkness.  We can make this world a better place even when some of us are doing horrible things to each other.

Afterall in this current era marked by destruction, violence and war the answer is simple…

We need more cellists.