Poem #47: A Little Green

A Little Green

green emeralds 

jade money 

growing grass offers women

      resources, information 

      fertility life grass roots

the most restful color,

green symbolizes eco-terror 

and animal activism

green is a real universal 

grass-roots bastard

save money 

make money help 

      mentally and physically 

      restore your community

this weekend, last 

october green is the color 

of beautiful blues

the new red 

green is good 

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem #47: A Little Green

Poem #46: Poppy

Poppy

Oh, powerful, ancient poppy!

Ornamental, colorful, edible

provider of drugs

     --analgesic

         narcotic 

           medicinal

            recreational--

ease our suffering.

Wrap us in your 

crumpled ruby robes 

of blessed forgetfulness.

Help us 

remember, too,

the blood-red petals 

that bloomed and stained 

your fields, mud 

of earth and draining life; 

those who

     --so rudely torn from this 

         world of dizzying beauty 

           and curious regrets--

we pray

will remember us.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

The Poppy Field, by Anne Redpath

Photo: Tate Gallery

Poem #46: Poppy

Poem #45

Another One

How things are 

supposed to be:

Easy, some say.

Not like me, then.

Not like this, when

(as is so often the case)

clean carpets seem 

     simple

     enough

and yet... 

They may cost 

three days

of lying in bed

thinking 

about taking another 

sip 

of water 

     ---from that cup

      over there,

      on the nightstand---

and listening to myself 

breathe: OK,

time, now,

for another one.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem #45

Poem #44: Autumn Whispers

Autumn Whispers

Amber snowflakes drift

around us

autumn whispers softly 

another quiet 

wilderness of deer and grass 

and rude insect sounds 

yesterday was never 

mine but now 

dawn has cleared 

the road bringing you nearer 

and I 

regard the improved prospect

the fences

holding me in

welcoming you

and fall.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem #44: Autumn Whispers

Poem #43: Clover

Barefoot on the grass,

Clover hummed with honey bees...

All is quiet now.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem #43: Clover

Poem 42: Leaden

Leaden-- 

to breathe,

to eat, 

to drink, 

too great an effort 

for my brain 

shuts 

        windows 

closes 

        curtains and 

locks 

        the door.

Arms growing weak, too

weak to move 

a pen across 

the page.

What saves me is

this moment, is all

      floating 

      between worlds,

needing, 

doing without, 

wanting to 

curl around and cradle

my silky self.

Simply not enough 

        to cook,

        to water, 

        to want,

to eat 

   waffles-and-ice-cream 

     on the boardwalk

       faster than 

         it can melt.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Wildwood, NJ

Poem 42: Leaden

Poem #41: Jane Smiles

Painting of the 3 Brontë Sisters, by Branwell Brontë (L to R: Anne, Emily, Charlotte)

Jane Smiles

(Inspired by Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre)

At rest, stern, 

Strong, the squared-off jaw, set

Almost stubbornly, betrayed

Only by the softening

At the corners 

Of his mouth,

And the gentle

Brightness of his eyes

         --often darkened by 

         the onset of a storm--

Though this is how 

I think of them

         --searching, sweet--

When I think of them,

When he smiles,

And smile.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem #41: Jane Smiles

Poem #40!

Musings on my Companion

Gentle comfort, like

Toast and marmalade,

Served with sugared, milky tea.

Marmalade-and-milky-tea-colored

Toes, curled in on themselves,

Cozily, in reflex, next to me.

Like tiny velvet nautili,

Feet neatly crossed,

In an X of pure contentment.

(c) 2013, by Hannah Six

Poem #40!