Some July Poems

On the Volga

Only the lapping
Waves remain –
The silence of the
Expansive river
Haunted by the bodies
Still sinking, still
Settling in the silt
Amongst the remains of
The obsolete pleasure boat
Finally out of service
One trip too late

ltv
7/11/11



the cat days of summer

lounging
with paws outstretched
heads draped
over the edge
of the recliner
and the sofa
they gaze at me
grabbing my keys,
my work bag, and purse
I wonder if they know
this keeps them in kibble
or do they think I’m crazy
to venture out in this
sweltering summer heat

ltv
7/12/11



CD VS PMS

it lingers like a memory
or an unknown,
unpleasant odor
yet still I know it
in the pain
I search for meaning
the elusive ‘why’
I check the days,
the job, the current
worries rattling
in my brain
they are the same
as they always are
can I blame this on
that anomalous
woman thing
that men and doctors deny
makes such a difference
a scapegoat for something
more sinister simmering
under the surface

ltv
7/13/11



planned parenthood

it is selfish to yield to
genetic curiosity

the time to explore
such theories passed
decades ago

now science becomes
the natural choice

women, men believing
their commitment to biology
proves their worth

as if Nature has made
some grievous error

not them – for waiting –
because they have options now
they have status, money

unlike how it would have been
struggling to survive

on only two lowly incomes
or worse – sacrificing one career
for an unscheduled life

ltv
7/24/11

forty-two

                 42

alone again with the Universe around me
swirling galaxies buzzing with life
all alone, separated from the others
the ones with skin, with fur, with feathers
the microscopic membrane barriers
designed to keep us defined

but in that definition
we have forgotten what we mean
I mean the ones in these sentient bodies
the naked apes attempting to gain
dominion over those who have already
figured out their purpose in this life

we keep searching – the skies, the earth,
the ether and dark places other creatures shun
some are brave enough to look inside
and still believe the journey isn’t over
we construct mythologies proclaiming
our superiority over the beasts that crawl
the fish that swim and the birds that fly

but why then are they free to roam
free to live and love in whatever way they do
not worried about legalities or paper
they navigate their world based on instinct
that inherent truth within them
guiding their every move

we force laws and social contracts
on the other lonely beings like us
so that we can feel more at home
in this skin that isolates us
rattling rules around in our heads
regarding who can share our lives,
our beds, our thoughts and insecurities

if I were a bird would I try to fly
away to the stars, risking exhaustion
or worse, the flaming death of Icarus
if I were a salmon would I fight
my natural urges to go home
and travel the oceans looking
for the one thing I know isn’t out there

ltv
7/8/11