senseless
i’ve been holding back tears for weeks
playing strong and grown up and
capable
(a word that always hunts me down)
last night the world broke me
(again)
the floodgates opened
and i stood in the rain so no one
would notice
tears fell to earth
ran down rivers
rushed to the ocean
(earth’s gravity bowl
for mother’s tears)
i want to gather my babies
and build a big bonfire
cook them promises and
protection bake them dozens
of hope-filled tomorrows
i want to sit beneath the stars
and see their eyes fill
with something other than
confusion
i want ghost stories and
huddled together whispers
about fears they need not be
afraid of
i want this storm
to cry itself out
cleanse our wounds
carry us all out to see
i am hungry for a rainbow
.
.
.
.
A poem a day for 30 days, in honor of National Poetry Month.
This post is part of NaPoWriMo. see more here.
April 16th, 2013 at 9:49 am
I’m so speechless over this capture I can’t comment on your poem. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
April 16th, 2013 at 10:11 am
This poem hits me today in a deeper way, the progression of images takes me into its heart and standing up for my own rainbow!
April 16th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Amen, Mrs M. amen.
April 16th, 2013 at 11:53 am
…sometimes you scare me. i never know if the words are poetry or actuality. but they are profound, regardless. and they stay with me…for a long time.
in fondest..tilda
April 16th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
I feel the same way, this resonates with me and it’s simply gorgeous!
April 16th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Kelli, yes. Yes, again. You so caught the mood a lot of us had yesterday.
April 16th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Deep on so many levels. Powerful!
April 16th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Deeply emotional and strongly felt by this reader. I don’t have kids of my own, but I’d like to gather up an armful of kids right now and let them know that this world does have safe places and people in it.
April 16th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Mrs. M, what a striking poem, especially for all us moms – and dads. Here is where I started crying: cook them promises and/protection bake them dozens/of hope-filled tomorrows…
After the events in Boston, I want to fly out to LA, visit my Riley, and bake her the world. A better world… Breathtaking. Love, Amy
April 16th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
“I am hungry for a rainbow”
floored me. loved all the feeding and nurturing images in this. the world seems starved for sanity right now. hungering for hope is a “grown up and capable” [love that line too] and very motherly response.
thank you for this.
gorgeous work.
April 16th, 2013 at 5:15 pm
“the floodgates opened
and i stood in the rain so no one
would notice”
from there, this poem just kept gathering gravitas. I second Amy B – breathtaking.
April 16th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
love the intensity and all the images…the bonfire…protection-bake…wonderful.. and what a gorgeous close with the rainbow… i play grown-up way too often as well..
April 16th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
The intensity and heart contained in each line of this poem just blew me away.
April 16th, 2013 at 6:11 pm
The ending lines are specially uplifting:
i want this storm
to cry itself out
cleanse our wounds
carry us all out to see
i am hungry for a rainbow
April 16th, 2013 at 6:26 pm
this is heartfully beautiful. thank you.
April 16th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
This is perfect.
April 16th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
I love this. And I want the rainbow too!
April 16th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Powerful write during a turbulent time. Each word felt deep in the core.
April 16th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
i want this storm
to cry itself out
cleanse our wounds
carry us all out to see
yes….yes we do. Thank you for speaking for us all. K
April 16th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Beautiful, powerful imagery, Kelly. You speak (and cry) for mothers everywhere.
April 16th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Incredible ending. Could you bake me a few hope-filled tomorrows too? *hug*
April 16th, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Kelly this is really beautiful. I went to my kids schools today… needed a midday hug.
April 16th, 2013 at 11:09 pm
(earth’s gravity bowl
for mother’s tears)
i want to gather my babies
and build a big bonfire
cook them promises and
protection bake them dozens
of hope-filled tomorrows
and the final line
totally seals the deal for
me –
a flourish
to lick the lid of finesse
April 17th, 2013 at 3:34 am
very very beautiful! Amen! to every wish here…
April 17th, 2013 at 9:30 am
Standing in the rain to hide the tears–what a heart-rending picture. Sad, beautiful, just a very well-done piece.
April 17th, 2013 at 11:05 am
Poignant and powerful. A heartfelt cry in a world of often inexplicable pain.
April 17th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
I’m trying to figure out how you did this. So much emotion ought to be pretty awful, but this is both solid and lyric.
April 17th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Rainbows and normalcy…whatever that is…There will always be a rainbow if you look…but normalcy has become archaic. Your poem is a lovely cry in the dark…and brings light.
April 17th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Vivid and powerful work!
April 19th, 2013 at 11:54 am
i want to be one of those gathered babies. although, thinking about it, i think i am. you gather me every day and i am always better for it. you are amazing.