remembrance gentle like babe’s foot
smooth creamy warm
cradle handed down as heritage
here we sit waiting for christening
oblivious to what she will bear
what joys and anguish
hall clock ticktock
he is late with his mantras
to be whispered in her ear
soft purr of cat circles room —
nobody requires to speak
we roll new name on our tongues
over and over like counting
pearls on a necklace or
sweat drops down throat
even westwind is quiet today
a starling lands on sill
does not twitter, waits silent
she passes from one arm to next
wordless chaste enchanting
white crochet shawl alive
with granny’s hands —
teapot smiles rooibos tea
iced biscuits and cherries bedeck
oval oak sturdy, assured, steady
we hear his car in driveway
murmur a prayer of thanksgiving
still we whisper, still starling
has not flown or tweeted
teeny gold identity bangle glisten
white daisies shiver in bowl
petals endorse sound of name
beauty birthed has no time
__________________________
[Poet’s Note : Inspired by : Benicia Poet Laureate Emerita, Johanna Ely’s Poem : What Still Matters | Confirm : No AI ]
___________________________
Grains of sand
hiding small burrows;
every tiny sand crabs, the Emerita Analoga
needs its burrow.
intense sunlight’s warm but
has its dangers, even for a tiny crab’s skin.
xiphosurans, cousins to the sand crabs,
don’t need to stress and
worry about the sun
as unless they are upside down, it won’t harm them.
long hot summers will see sand crabs burrowing to
keep themselves from sunburn and dry skin. These
burrowing crabs have insufficient legs for traveling.
zooplankton nourishes the crabs,
building their health so they can burrow deeply
underneath the sand.
just watch where you step at the beach,
no one wants to be squished when they’re building or be
renovating their lovely burrow. All life is sacred,
please show some respect.
E-arly
M-orn
E-rases
R-ain
I-n
T-winkling
A-ppearance
A-s
L-ight
M-eets
O-pen
D-awn
O-f
V-ividness
A-nd
R-adiance
Topic: Birthday of Emerita Almodovar (September 22)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
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