switch click on the metronomescaling fingers racing homebare feet pedal metal flarenotes sustain and float on airstaccato point legato’s phrasesong sheets flutter on for daysforearms cramp and fingers flypieces forte to the skyeyes are fixed on each new noteexercising practiced roteresonating polished boxarpeggio-ing tangled walkson hammered strings precision lieswho’s playing who, by and bycoda’s flareContinue reading “Rhythm Games”
Author Archives: amyjasek
In Dreams
waking up I try to decipherif what I thought I sawwas something I livedor if I just slept through itI bend down and squintthrough mighty tomato stalkssifting and sortingsight from visionbut this plant is tighter lippedthan a vow of silenceand yesterday’s wine won’t leave my headI swear you can hearthe garden growingit’s a constant cheepContinue reading “In Dreams”
Flipped
When the other-me escapesshe laughs dark & mischievousthrowing down shots of potent who-caresintoxicated by riskshe spits on faith as uselesshelmet-free Harley revvinga spew of fiery dustbut this time it’s not an actshe winks to show it’s real Continuing to follow NaPoWriMo’s prompts, this one is a short exploration of the idea of an alter-ego (becauseContinue reading “Flipped”
A Memory
The family’s place was on the front pewso mine was there, too, visible,or so I felt, to the whole altar and both transepts.Eyed and evaluated. Grand-daughter. Youngest,too short to see but hungry to watch;the kneeler was my ladder and I was the rapt audienceas father called upon the Fatheras per the instructions of the SonandContinue reading “A Memory”
Fishing
Every day, fishing.The ears of my heart cast lines,trawling for a sign.Hopeful, I try not to drift.Bravely, I face every wave. This poem is the first in response to NaPoWriMo’s prompts: a tanka. I’m a big fan of these! A challenge for you: write your own, join in this month’s daily writing!
Equinox
Today the time divides equally, half & half,which is what I like in my tea with a little sugar.It has a deeper flavor than milk,and autumn a deeper flavor than spring,since it brings to mind a returning time,reaching down and in,a time for calling everything backto enjoy the goodness of a new harvestunder golden lamplight.Continue reading “Equinox”
Cacophany
I like noisy wordsones with lots of consonants and sharp edgeswords like the prickly thingsthat grow in the West Texas desertsharp, but also sweet and pleasingas those pastel desert sunsetsthat bring relief to the eyes and the body And I like rounder wordsmore temperate foothills as opposedto craggy mountain peakswords that roll like knucklesover theContinue reading “Cacophany”
In Denial
How He lookedfrom the shadows where I hadtemporarily forgotten Himwhere He was stashedlike an old toy recently becomeembarrassing and shoved under the bed I turned my face awayand then I turned morewhen the shame hit me full forcein a hurricane of regret But the Lord turned, and looked,and how that look turnedme inside out ItContinue reading “In Denial”
Roses
I never promised you a rose garden.Or maybe I did, in a wild moment.I beg your pardon. In a moment of wine drunk abandon,idealism rising to foment:perhaps I promised you a rose garden. There are blossoms where thorns hardenaround my green-thumbed attempts:they too beg pardon. Broken shovels and rakes also burdena space ripe with weeds’Continue reading “Roses”
Wrestling
Climbing Jacob’s ladder counting sheepone, two, three: they frolic away from mein the chaotic tangle of thoughts keeping me awake My legs are tired but keep workinglaboring herculean up carved stepsthat are half my height It’s a slogand my hip is killing me tossed about in wakefulnesswhile my pillow turns to stone Deviating from publishedContinue reading “Wrestling”
The Poetry Patio 