CONFLUENCE

So we’re told, by those who hold
The view, that earthly strings
Will overpower the pull of love
On all celestial things-
But, by some paradox, around the equinox,
No power in the stars
Could prevent the confluence
Of Mercury, Uranus and Mars.

For Mercury, of fire born-
Quicksilver, much maligned-
Uranus, so distant,
Was the last to be aligned-
Now, in Mars, this triad of stars
Has found its human face:
The pull of love, that once seemed faint,
Has drawn them to this place…

Just memory now, the cold March wind
which made the bare trees sway and bend
tossing sedge fields into waving seas
causing early mornings' puddle freeze.

For now April has half worn out
and spring is blossoming about.
The days of dawning frosts are done
replaced by dewy sequins in the sun.

We'll greet the warm days while they last
for the southern heat approaches fast.
Ere long we'll mourn the cold that's lost
and yearn for return of autumn's frost.

Wistfully I watch her
sitting in bed
staring at nothing.

As I enter she seems surprised
Inquiring “Oh Lori your're here. Is school over already?”
Squelching down the urge to tell her
“ Mom, I’m grown.”
I smile, laugh and say
“It is Saturday.”

Her eyes bright, as she declares
“See I know who you are...
...your Dad thinks I’m delusional.”

Quickly I lean in
hugging her small frame
hiding tears
balanced on my eyelashes.

Loreli

why do
thoughts of you
fool me out
of sleep
take me backwards
through old movies
their grainy memories
blur colors into gray
walls waved with
angry admissions; we
both had little control,
tore each other like
wolves rip their prey

if i could return
to a time
where us
had not yet taken place
i may find where the dreams went

still asleep in
some corner
waiting
to be discovered
and not smashed
on the rocks
of indecision