whisperings

my grandmother knew
as grandmothers know
when first they held us to light
something (but who has the words
to describe it)
hush (now the sins
of) your heart
take it down
burn the bed
whispering flutters
madness to meaning
though everyone shades (their soul)
from the truth
a sign unexpected
broken and scattered
there goes the star
now ahead
won't say a thing
about stories repeated
things we might know
(we don't know)
messages can't be heard
above screaming
where I am (listening)
grandmother knows




the name I keep now
is not the same I wore then
and red the color
I painted my tears
while waiting to hear it again
(and again)
the gentle resounding
of longing to vowel
a want for much more
than a taste
of sugar and salt
ocean and orchard
hands stained
with berry and rain
where might I be
to wait without reason
of just what it meant
(did it matter to you)
promise stuck
to the roof my mouth
silence remembers
my name