Confidence has wings.
Confidence flings itself
between you and the bullet
time and again.
Confidence sings into
the unknown, flies ahead,
often lost from view.
Confidence are the names
of cities in California, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin,
because it was what they cherished,
had most of.
Confidence has strings-- golden fastenings
that bind us
to our course.
Confidence sings into discord,
unruffles feathers
that would have flown long ago.
Confidence is spring,
the sowing of seeds,
of summer’s abundance,
and into the fall, letting go,
purified by winter,
white and glistening,
fresh with mischief.
Confidence is the flower on a grave,
of a time to claim as our own,
our finest moments yet unknown
as a new journey begins.
Linen ruffs and lacy cuffs
And farthingales and tassels;
Petticoats and hose and cloaks
Like those once worn in castles.
Fastenings of hooks and eyes
And buttons, strings and laces
Used instead of zippers to
Keep closed important places.
Milliners and stocking knitters,
Shoemakers and such
Pushed for authenticity
In looks and wear and touch.
Seeing Shakespeare on the stage
The way that he intended
Must have had a top-notch team
Who cut and sewed and mended.
“Twelfe Night” was magnificent.
The all-male cast impressed;
But kudos, too, to all the folk
Who got those actors dressed!
Broken windows
The opening to my soul
Is fractured
Along with it
Lifting daisies
Looking for freedom
Of life’s bindings
Ones that crush
Suffocating water
Bleeding inside me
Salty and on fire
The burning hold
Never seen
Are the fastenings
Of my bleeding heart
Ruptured severely
No light entered
Into my soul
It’s forever dark
With broken glass
Russell Sivey
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