Three poems by Charlene Jones

Wanting 

Someday whether it be when the sun's fingers hook the horizon 

or night planets reflect their gaze upon your eyes 

you too will walk away. 

Finally uttering your last breath like a poem's end or a moan 

you too will send a long shiver of delight 
up the skeleton's back, joining 
crystal bone to clean air. 

In this moment, as the silver fish of memory 

scatter in the sudden move, as longed for tomorrows
tremble out of their tree, winging away 

you will lie or stand at last 

in that precious interval between then and later 

in that pause 

you will lie or stand 
present        

at last. 

Apocatastasis

apocatastasis: 1/ the state of being restored or re-established; restitution

                        2/ the doctrine that Satan and all sinners will ultimately be restored to God.

To see the bird each day

             feed it peanuts

will chirp in greeting

as your hand reaches

or gently, repetitively,

rocks the limb with voice
inclining you toward throwing
and food.

Slippered feet across carpet.

then sudden sight--
the rare bird on dead limb,
the brilliant red, scarlet head
and white, white body
blocked by blue/black wings--

this thing dangles

for seconds then gone

leaving in its wake
the space of its being, having been

so now, the eyes look.

To an Earlier Mentor

I have left you because my darling

your thorny suit so suitable
to my earlier age

requires of me an armor

that interferes with l’amor

you say it that way

and in the space since then

I have taken off the suit
so suitable to an earlier age

and lain among the grasses

their green billowing
enough in my haired ears

enough I have lain

and in among the blades
of those who carry the armor

I have seen the heart

bleed

so now we must put it down,

let go

just as you taught me

from the suit of armor
so suitable so long ago.

Charlene Jones has been a practicing psychotherapist and meditation teacher for thirteen years. In addition, Charlene writes for the Musselman’s Lake Residents Association website (here), is the Musselman Lake Correspondent for the Stouffville Free Press, and is at work on her first novel. She has two books of poetry to her credit, as well as several individual poems published in many North American magazines.

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