Two Poems


Sunburnt July

The bay splashes me
with its mirrored water
until my daydreams
surrender to the waves.

Reality is too cold under
the sunburnt July sky.

Why swirls above me
with the seagulls and
for a few short moments
I don’t care there
isn’t an answer.


©Susie Clevenger 2014                           
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Kool-Aid And Brimstone

 We drank the Kool-Aid
and searched the horizon
for the end of the world.

With our boots laced to brimstone
we toured damnation until
love was supplanted by fear.

Summer stirs my unholy ghosts
with their songs of blood echoing
through the questions I never asked.

I still feel the pain of wearing wool.

©Susie Clevenger 2014
                                         
photo credit: Adam Foster | Codefor via photopin cc

The first poem is written for Margaret Bednar's challenge at Real Toads
Artistic Interpretations ~ Life On An Island

The second is written for Real Toads Flash Fiction 55

Comments

Vandana Sharma said…
Both the poems are lovely!!!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Both of these poems are deep, Susie. I especially love the first with the mirrored water and the coldness under the sunburnt sky. Vivid imagery. I can feel the unsettling stirring of summer ghosts in the second, along with the discomfort of wool. So well done.
Scarlet said…
I love both poems - The first one, silence is golden, there isn't a need for an answer ~ The second one, that is some painful summer memory ~ Wishing you happy week ~

Grace
Margaret said…
Sigh - the second stanza in the first poem is stunning. Wool - the wool of today is pretty amazing (washable wool socks ? seems like a miracle) but yes, I remember 1970 winters and wool blankets (I hated those too).
The second one sounds like the pains of growing up and losing our chidish notions. The first is such a lovely reminder of summers by the sea.
Anonymous said…
strong voices in each pen, Susie ~
ed pilolla said…
cold reality, yes. wonderful work, both of them.