Baby Sister (Portfolio Poem #2)

She is a fluttering, fragile

Crystalline configuration

Falling slowly, fusing suddenly

As she lands, miraculously, upon us.

I scarcely exhale when she is placed in my arms

and marvel-- how dainty! how delicate!

But when the shrieking storm comes

I sometimes forget her beauty.

Looking up close, she and I are worlds within ourselves

Both exquisitely, stubbornly unique--

From a distance, though, it is simple to see

We are formed from the same soft stuff.

Solo Flight (Portfolio Poem #1)

Sticky strands of hair
clinging to the nape of my neck as I watch

The golden glow of afternoon seeping like nectar

I smell of dirt and pine trees and bubble gum and smoke.

We sit, my friend and I,

Long browned legs dangling off the edge of the rough rope

Of the hammock.

She says something and I laugh and the gum slides, abruptly

Brisk and businesslike, into the back of my throat.

Shocked, I motion, I motion, it’s stuck, my eyes shout

The seconds are stretched and time is oozing

Like that painting by Dali with the melting clocks.

My friend is shouting but it is distant and she is blurry.

And I taste salt

But I don’t know if it’s sweat or tears or both.

She grabs me jabs my stomach her fists thrust
once
and the rubbery pink wad

Goes on its first solo flight

Up and out of my mouth and I gasp

And the air floods my lungs and I cry and laugh

With my friend who is crying and laughing

Sticky strands of hair clinging
to the nape of my neck as I watch

The golden glow of afternoon seeping like nectar 

I smell of dirt and pine trees and bubble gum and smoke.