Red Owned

You are known, you know

I mistook you for royalty.

As if, no dime was ever dropped,

to temporarily immortalize you.

But you're decked

in nothing but a lot of

soft, crisp cotton and

one big, dangling pearl.

You have my apologies.

So many have said so much about you

I’d lend your glare for them, but

Whenever I look in the mirror, I stop.

For one second, then a few.

My mouth opens slightly,

and every time, my teeth show.

On its own,

my tongue never tries to hide them

Why is a mouth red inside?

Visual Image Used: Girl With a Pearl Ear-Ring by Johannes Vermeer. Created around the mid 1600s.

Glitterati

                And then I remembered

Back straight

Chin up

rising hand, soaring feet.

dainty waist flies up

The feathery skirt sobered down.

Translucent silhouette.

Ever eye, mind lights

The masses rise loudly,

they sparkle and cheer. Now

twirl the air, land on your feet.

Note: The line "Ever eye, mind lights" is from 'Ghazal' by Marylin Hacker. 

The Beak of a Vulture

There's a strange place where my mind lives;

where in all my strings have You tied this knot?

I refuse to understand the point --

the point of adrenaline,

the fight or flight response.

The eagle has wings, not I.

The bear has claws, not I.

It's a strange place where my mind lives.

Where in all my strings have You tied this knot?

My spine unyielding, it is

Clockwork worthy of ticking, yet resistant to time

but he sees me.

his ghost touches my spine.

You said I could be happy tomorrow,

If I can suffer today.

You realize I could brave tomorrow,

If I could be happy today?

    There's a strange place where my mind lives,

    Where in all my strings have You tied this knot?