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”).

Gather Round

Harmonica in hand, fedora tipped,

he sits

on the curb

at Pike Place,

           a glass at his side.

I don't question

what's in it,

I don't judge.

He lifts metal to mouth,

we tune out, but--

like the President

in a State of the Union Address

after tragedy to the nation,

the street

becomes his,

all ears

to the tomcat

wailing,

and we come,

we come.

© 2015 Jennifer Wagner

For dVerse MTB: Connecting the Dots.

he forgot the (r) in togethe(r)

i didn't point it out

actually, i didn't even notice

but that's how love is,

                                               too

© 2015 Jennifer Wagner

Poem © 2014 Andrew Romero

Photo © 2014 Jennifer Wagner

My eldest son wrote this concrete poem and put it on the door of my room last Mother's Day (on wide strips of tape, not right on the door itself, ha). I have yet to take it down because, well, why take it down? And it is the month of love!