poetry

Quickening. {poetry}

For Patti Smith…

We were really different and I didn’t understand who

she was or what she was doing and

I was so young anyway,

with only my partially informed opinions

to keep me safe.

But then years

later when I read one of her stories

about something that she did

I knew exactly who she was,

and I had that incredulous sensation

when you recognize how

vital parts of your sensibilities

are mirrored exactly in another,

and you can’t believe it.

That what had been alien

was actually solace.

And everything she said and created before

and after was filtered through the light.

The painting her words

had formed in my mind,

and I felt I understood

what I hadn’t before,

what has taken years to get to.

I had just lost someone when all this occurred.

And I’ll never get over it,

this loss.

And I’ll always limp.

It’s ignorant

to speculate you can go back and be the same,

even though others will tell you maybe you can.

Well, maybe they can.

So when I read what was maybe all of a paragraph

from some of her work I felt then

I could stand it, this loss,

because I found my moorings

and a map of sorts.

And, so I get it out every day and squint

down at it and my heart still hurts

and I wonder how much longer am I going

to cry.

But honestly, that paragraph — her paragraph

is making the moment doable

and then the next moment

And that’s kinda all I know

today.

I suspect living with certainty isn’t

the name of the game anymore.

I feel it’s more about being present

(somehow)

with faith…

*****

Lisa Marguerite MoraLisa Marguerite Mora has had work published and forthcoming in the literary journals Rattle, ONTHEBUS, Common Ties, Literary Mama, California Quarterly, The Venice Beachhead, Poemimage, Public Poetry Project, Cultural Weekly among others and was Second Place Prize Winner in the 2008 Biannual Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Contest. She is a member of PEN. Lisa has recently completed a novel and is seeking representation. You could contact her via her website.

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