Lament

Jennifer Paige©1998

Sky dark

            The heart of the sky a bruised cloud

            It hopes to rain

Cloaked in bleak

            And inhaling the sky’s pain

            I hope for rain

This shroud is familiar

            Though I have not worn it long

            Heavy and sodden with past

            It hangs about sullen shoulders

            Colored as my eyes which ponder black sky

Will the future hold rain?

            To cleanse this misbegotten daughter

            To re-hydrate dry eyes

            Bloom, the flowers of family and friends,

            In the soul of this empty potting bed

            Once fertile and green

The desert blooms, why can’t I?

            My skin could be likened to white sand

            Fine, though no where near as warm

            The Indian paintbrush of my mouth

            The yellow wild sunflower of my hair

            The sage of my eyes

Ponder now black sky, oh sage eyes

            Is there future in the past?

            Is there a rain king for my queen?

            The answered prayer remains unseen

            The bleak poetess’ dream

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