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Gravity
Pains of the 40-Something
Aching back, forsaken loves
Youthful bounce now replaced
By something heavier, more pronounced,
A slower gait, a sagging tummy.
I sit here wondering what will become
Of me; watching my mother, 70-something
Reeling from the force of it all.
I feel it too, but I can still bench press 95 pounds,
And on a good day
Walk fast, 45 minutes uphill
Fighing gravity like an astronaut
Walking the surface of the moon, feeling for a
Moment the ecstasy of weightlessness...but too
Soon I am once again
Here on earth.
When You Have Loved a Man
When you have loved a man
You do not forget the way
The earth awakened
And the music of angels
Accompanied you
Everywhere!
When you have loved a man
You remember the weakness
Behind your knees,
The flutterings inside your tummy
Telling you that you are so happy
To be terrified like this.
When you have loved a man
Good and hardd, you remember
The way he said, "I love you,"
And the way he kissed you,
His tongue dancing warm
Inside your mouth.
You remember
His heart beating in your ear
And your hair spread
Across his chest.
When you have loved a man
You do not forget your dreams,
The cottage in the country,
The world at your feet,
Love at your side
Always.
When you have loved a man
You do not forget the way
He said goodbye, the way his
Words clung to your breast,
Through the night
Clattering like chains on the ghost
Of your past,
Until by some grace of heaven
You are freed.
Rain
Mad drummers play pain upon my ears
Seeking recognition
From empty chairs and barren hallways.
Their beatings rage against the solace of my home
And seek to drown me.
Leave me cold, wet drummers
Find peace with your instrument
I have no quarrel with you!/P>
Melanie Simms has been publishing poetry for the past 7 years in various ezines,
newspapers and magazines including the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Santa Cruz Sentinel,
3 Cup Morning, Zuzu's Petals among many others. She has served as Poet Laureate of her County (Perry, PA)
from 2005-2006 and served as President of the Association of Pennsylvania Poets Lauerate.
Her website is located at Melanie Simms Poetry
and her first book, Waking the Muse is now in
distribution and available on BarnesandNoble.com among various other
national and international distibution sites.
Email: Melanie Simms
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