A Study in Tears

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I cried today
peeling onions
at our black marble countertop
knife chopping
on the old scarred cutting board.
I laughed at myself
as salty tears seasoned diced sweet yellow
enough for two, waiting for your footsteps.

I cried today
walking in the rain
the Charles covered in mist
damp fog coolness on my face,
your absence by my side.
A young couple scurried by
unaware that my tears ached
with rivulets from the sky.

I cried today
in front of our tv
on our corduroy couch
stained by tears on wales.
Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr,
an Affair to Remember
their ending so bittersweet
ours so not.

And I wondered
if anyone,
beyond these walls
could hear
my silent
primal
scream.

Motivated by rereading a prompt from my poetry mentor, Holly Wren Spaulding, in a previous class with her.  Write a poem using “anaphora” —  repetition of a word or phrase. 

Spent

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She sat with the counselor
and tried to explain
to divulge in words
what had not been said
for too many years.

Over-size
dime-store dark glasses
hid the terror trail
as she sat, tense
alert, waiting.

Hands clasped in lap
hid fingernails
chewed to nothingness
feet pressed on floor, heels together
knees together too.

A posture learned
to pull in, retreat
be small
in the smallest
amount of space.

She flinched
as he leaned in
and so he adjusted
settled back in the chair
to listen with his eyes.

And finally
she answered
slowly
each word mumbled
yet distinct.

 I feel like
a sandwich cookie
pryed open
pulled apart
licked raw
and gnawed upon
crumb by crumb
and now
I am totally consumed.