Color Me

Photo © 2023 Jennifer Wagner

Unfold a whisper

held on your tongue—

it is sweetest released

on the curve of my ear—

your lips a light-touch paintbrush

coloring my skin.

 

And you will find me

folding

my hand into yours—

a canvas of two—

us blended,

entwined and unending.

 

© 2023 Jennifer Wagner

 

For dVerseQuadrille #186 - Fold

Mariposa

I want to search your depths
and find veils
and smoke,
that will vanish at last in flame.

           --from Eve's Discourse, by Carilda Oliver Labra

Dormant

after first frost,

gypsy lips,

            volcanic

to your molten touch, erupt--

ignite the slumbering zest,

exotic scent,

hidden in white ginger flame,

burns us up

and leaves

            to ash

the petal nest

of our broken names.

We'll sleep like murderers
who've saved themselves
by bonding together in incomparable blossoming.

            --from Eve's Discourse, by Carilda Oliver Labra

© 2015 Jennifer Wagner

For the Sunday Mini-challenge at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads. Grace offered us the work of Cuban poet Carilda Oliver Labra for inspiration.

Mariposa is the national flower of Cuba (white ginger lily, “butterfly”).

Balm (A Butterfly Cinquain)

Photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Speak soft-

petaled twilight

against my shoulders, tanned

and salty, from a day rippling

with sun.

Envelop me, with your mouth, cool

with mint and cucumber,

our purpling kiss,

perfumed.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For dVerse OpenLinkNight

Music Box River

The river sings a song for pebbles

from the bank of wild daisies, white.

I cast them in, with a grin,

and much to my delight,

it plays my favorite memories

of you and me and lavender

on honeysuckle nights.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

for Poetry Jam where it's all about the flowers!

 

Viking Lover's Missive

The Mist

Find me here

in sweet-dappled sunlight kiss,

naked,

save the bangles on my wrist.

Come to me,

cling like mist;

like bilberries—

stain my lips, my hips.

Pull my flesh

from the silknight bone

and leave my carcass

to the stones.

for Ian

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

This was written for Ella’s Sunday Mini-Challenge at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads where we were given the opportunity to write a poem inspired by the wonderful photography of L. Diane Wolfe.  I’ll also be linking to dVerse for OpenLinkNight.

That Night in Cabo

Flies tried to stay cool, too

in the sweltering fisheye view

of Mariscos Mazatlan.

A little girl, a bloodshot hibiscus in her hair,

young men, brown shouldered in thin white tanks, and

the humming Spanish vernacular

making me tone deaf

with ringing, pounding

against my—

I don’t know what I felt more

the heat between my thighs

or your stare,

affecting nonchalance,

sipping ice water

sprinkled with a lime

meant for two.

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Linking up to dVerse Poets Pub for OpenLinkNight!