Some things we do
so we might recall
having done them
The plunge from 3,000 feet
in an adult diaper to say Yes
I can fall and believe
the wind and a sheath
of plastic will spare me
A pilgrimage to Mecca, a hike
to glimpse the eruption’s heart
Sex in a field of chamomile
when clouds threaten rain
when shame hangs in prisms
through darts of complicit light
Some things we do
so we might forget
Mowing the field
A trip to Lourdes
for bread alone
A knife to our maps
Replacing the sandals and boots
Packing away the parachute
Let me hold as pumice
to these stones each room,
each moment when the wind
was wet with a decision of rain
when the tea sat cooling
and the lemon was sliced
when the acrid and the sweet
met in places outside
what we think we have
chosen to remember
what we think we
have time to forget
Melissa Dickson Blackburn is a Mother, Poet, Visual Artist, Blogger, Marketing Director. MFA Poetry candidate at Converse College. MFA, Painting from SVA, NYC 1995.
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Beautiful! (WordPress, or someone, is telling me my comment is too short?! But, really, that is all I have to say).
So powerful! Your words humble me.
I love a poem that makes me think…thanks!
I love this, Melissa! Pumice, lemon slices… the acrid & the sweet… very evocative.
Thanks Ladies – nice to part of this big “risky” family.
Melissa – Head on over to my facebook page where your gorgeous piece also appeared and see what others have written there, too!
wonderful use of words and potent images. and truth-telling. thank you