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Carolyn Kemp Poem
i have seen my death
wrapped around a maypole
waving four corners in the wind
hauntingly
playing
peek-a-boo with my soul
i have seen my death
as i march onto the battlefield
aimed to kill
that which threatens my very existence
my right to stand
on the balcony of life
feast my gaze on the rising sun
interlaced with the aroma of morning dew
sit at the edge of a quiet stream
watch the sun slip slowly
behind the mountain peaks
the air dancing
with the fragrance of lilac
i have seen my death
viewed through the stethoscope
of the minds of learned men
that boast their knowledge
their talent
their skill
as i move away from sterile hands
with sterile anger
pushing away sterile needles
that have not the cure
only promises of next time
i want answers to this rage
this terror
that no man understands
i have seen my death
through the eyes of my loved ones
as they kiss away
my fear
their fear
my death
their death
i cannot enter
into their quiet soft place
my space
is filled with shadows
as i watch them close the coffin
on their humanness
but not their souls
i have seen my death
and
i'm not ready to die
Copyright © Carolyn Kemp | Year Posted 2006
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Carolyn Kemp Poem
what is my claim to fame
a face in a crowd
no name
that stands me out from the multitude
wading aimless in this bottomless vat
searching
for a glimmer of that somewhere light
climbing on ladder straights
that bend and break
from the pressure of generations
that sleep in hollow graves
shedding tears from hollow eyes
dried bones ache no more
from the pains of life
buried in this hole called nowhere
enclosed by walls that echo and scream
scream
when they remember yesterday
cry
when they think tomorrow
no longer seeking
the warm rays of the sun
even in death
there work is undone
ancestral spirits stand in the wings
hover over trees
whispering hold on
don't give in to the bend in my back
don't be afraid to let go of today
there is light at the top
of this bottomless vat
i have held centuries
who walked before you
tubman, booker t, dubois
sojourner, malcom, martin luther
just to name a few
don't give up to the ache in you feet
the pain in your hips
the chafe on your lips
the blood in the palm
of your outstretched hand
no one to understand
the pressure in the pit of your chest
broken heart
aching back
lost in the crowd of this bottomless vat
no father, no mother
no sister, no brother
a friend
an illusion of the mind
time has erased
all traces of humanness
climbing the ladder
to that somewhere success
hold on to your straight
don't give in to the weight of those
that stand on your toes
sap your strength
make you weak
smile in your face
then, slap the other cheek
you did not die from the knife
in your back
healed over scars
hidden wounds
its too soon
your don't have time
to form an attack
even with the knife
hanging from your back
peek the dawn that's about to break
it's all right to cry
no time to hate
stretch your arm
grab another straight
step once more upon my back
there is light at the top
of this bottomless vat
hold on
don't give up
you're on your way
to a place called
freedom
Copyright © Carolyn Kemp | Year Posted 2006
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Carolyn Kemp Poem
standing at the crust of life
peeking through dark shadows
that dance and glide
to string guitars and distant drums
shadows
that sneak through the night
playing peek-a-boo
under the pale moonlight
and stars that twinkle
oh so bright
shadows
hiding behind trees
that sway with the breeze
of a silent wind
hiding behind branches
that never bend
afraid to cross over
to the other side
for fear of the shadows
that dance and glide
yea, though i walk through
the valley of death
evil shadows surround me
i've grown weary of this test
fighting never-ending battles
to be free
i can see the distant light
looming straight ahead
dodging
the shadows of the night
wiping away fear and dread
creeping toward the light
instead
standing in the warmth
of the light
baptized in its' glory
a wonderful feeling
of pure delight
i will not look back
at the shadows of the night
Copyright © Carolyn Kemp | Year Posted 2006
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Carolyn Kemp Poem
children threw stones
at the steel-gated doors
and ran
laughing at eyes
peeking from tattered shades
the white picket fence
seemed odd in this sub-division
ivy encircled the weather-worn frame
wrapping around the smokeless chimney
covering the dirty window panes
on the house at the corner
of sycamore and elm
her only company
was a cat named puddin
a dog named mr. krum
a parrot she tried to teach
without success
to say
"stoney mae"
dry leaves left from last year's fall
cluttered the yard
along with bottles, cans
and bits of paper
tossed absent-mindedly
by an uncaring society
she shopped early in the morning
mostly for her pets
hiding behind a large straw hat
a black wool shawl
and ragged gloves
she plucked from a neighbor's
unwanted garbage
some called her crazy
others whispered "mad"
as they passed the shade drawn
darkened house
that made a sunny day sad
which seemed odd
in this tiny sub-division
it was on one of these bright sunny days
the neighbors made a decision
that had had enough of stoney mae
and wanted her out
of their quiet sub-division
standing outside of her steel-gated door
they knocked and banged
there was no answer
no sad eyes peeking from the tattered shades
someone turned the knob
pushed opened the door
which was never locked
a foul, rancid odor escaped to the outside
neighbors pushed to see inside
holding their noses
the shade was pulled up
sunshine filled the room
mouths stjood gaped
faces filled with dismay
just underneath the window
lay puddin and mr. krum
the parrot was perched
on the body of a woman
chanting
stoney mae! stoney mae! stoney mae!
Copyright © Carolyn Kemp | Year Posted 2006
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Carolyn Kemp Poem
it's the ache on the inside of my soul
a deep dark hole
that never gets filled
seeking someone to soothe the pain
erase the shame
unable to control my need
for riding fast in the fast car lane
a brain clouded from last night's drink
unable to think about
"where do i go from here"
to erase the loneliness
looking for success
in a crowded bar
faces blending
never bending
to the cha ching of the slot machine
when the smoke from the pipe
is not all it's cracked up to be
when the needle hanging from my arm
has lost its charm
sound the alarm
is that sirens i hear
taking me somewhere near
to sew up this hole that eats away
at the bottomless pit of my soul
a mouth to full to except
another spoonful of food
never hitting the empty spot
housed within
stop
did i eat yesterday
ate too much
threw it up anyway
stranger in my bed
no one said
life would be easy
on easy street
peeking from bruised eyes
trying to disguise the shame
of last night's drunken tirade
wondering "who am i"
believing that i deserve this black eye
this empty hole
burning on the inside of my soul
uncontrollable waves of an angry sea
a never-ending rage tormenting me
you turn your head
pretend that you don't see
these battles i fight
helplessly
rape
by whose definition
incest
a passing fantasy
molested
by a society who told me
that i was no good
since the beginning of time
when light is right
dark is the black night
lurking with evil shadows
life
has lost all sense of reason
reasons make no sense
cover my head
under the bed
searching for the gun
in the locked shoe box
the pills on the shelf
i tell myself
hanging from the window ledge
screaming
where is
what is
my anonymous
Copyright © Carolyn Kemp | Year Posted 2006
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