Chapter 109

I woke—my room, my house, my car -

I put them on like layers of fat,

To hide the blinding rays

Of my true beauty. Pet my cat,

Eat my toast, and go out and play

My (unknown) role in a play

Not particularly of my choosing.

The waters in my hidden lake were shallow,

Full of snags and unknown junk,

And I don’t know the way to where it lies

Behind the mountains of my daily life.

****

Spirit House 1998

Hills of flowers, white and gold,

Deserted homestead, someone’s old

Neglected mansion, full of dreams

Long abandoned; now it seems

That only I am here to see—

That only I am now set free.

The family’s gone; a tire swing

Idly waits what storms will bring,

A nest of robins, a rusted gate,

No childish laughter, it’s too late.

The dog has died; the cats are feral—

Alone I whisper, “My name is Carol.”

Father, mother, sister gone,

Leaves are turning, time moves on.

Houses fall and barns decay,

Weeds take over, ghosts still play.

In the pasture autumn leaves lie,