Category: Poetry
Gorgoneion
Four girls, heads together Wish to be seen seeing me. Their gaze sashays past mine, and in their hair Fork-tongued ribbons turn to snakes, Babbling in hisses, as their mistresses do, Dancing as though my faltering words Were music from a charmer’s flute. The girls look at me, Then Read more
Historical Figure Dress Up Day
Fifth Grade. 10 years old. I chose Harriet Tubman. My mom made my dress measured and cut to size. I was Harriet Tubman, but I was unlike her, a skinny shy kid, the tallest fifth-grader, slouching in my chair, a white girl trying to hide in the crowd. My dress Read more
Burning Books, Burying Scholars
i. The Warring States I unified the warring states for you Old classics, Confucius teachings burnt Wisdom buried – scholar by scholar Insurgency cut – tongue by tongue One Emperor, one wall is all you see ii. The Red Little Book I swam across the Yangtze for you Old ideas, Read more
lost mail packages
I discover kernels in poems. The shell breaks open to a singed blossom of hair. Before I spit the weirdness out, I savor a reeling storm in my nose and mouth. For a split second, I see a topiary. I awake to dreams; perhaps they are catchers to my middle-aged Read more
One Night You Grew Silent
You said you wanted me when you turned to face the lamppost. The snowflakes caught your eyelashes on the last languid Christmas. Your fingertips braided my hair. Your chilled lips smoothed my legs. Your breath in hot clouds warmed my skin. Maybe I love you a little. I stand in line at Read more
one more time
I stoppedbelievinghopingsearchingdreamingpleading for one more time memories lingerbittersweet pain of thepastprayers offereddesire lastingwishing foranother true lovestill longing for one more time invocations answeredyou stepped into mylifeeuphoric,my heartthrobbed withpassion one more time my dream weavermy second chance lovermy last forever goodbye one more time Photo ©Julie Anderson All Rights Reserved