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Her power is to open what is shut, shut what is open.
~ Ovid, speaking of Cardea, goddess of thresholds,
door hinges, and handles; protectress of children
Sister Poem #1
Lately,
She’s been disintegrating like a good remedy,
Collecting precious plastics,
China and cardboard eggshells,
Lint in various shades of red.
She wants to be held up with strings,
To sew shadows to her feet,
To dance about in the rainbow of oil puddles.
She wants to weave her fine red lint
Into fine red linen,
An evening gown,
Draped and flowing.
A silk sheet cast down from her breasts.
Instead,
She’s been tying up her words in satchels,
Scenting them with potpourri,
Throwing them
into closets,
and cabinets,
and dark bathroom drawers.
Pasting decoupage all over
Toilet seats
And door handles.
She breaks china for mosaics,
Melts silverware for stained glass.
Lately,
She’s been unfolding like a flower,
Layering.
She’s cracked free
And seeps like an egg
Into the pores of the kitchen grout.
Colleen Mills
~ Ovid, speaking of Cardea, goddess of thresholds,
door hinges, and handles; protectress of children
Sister Poem #1
Lately,
She’s been disintegrating like a good remedy,
Collecting precious plastics,
China and cardboard eggshells,
Lint in various shades of red.
She wants to be held up with strings,
To sew shadows to her feet,
To dance about in the rainbow of oil puddles.
She wants to weave her fine red lint
Into fine red linen,
An evening gown,
Draped and flowing.
A silk sheet cast down from her breasts.
Instead,
She’s been tying up her words in satchels,
Scenting them with potpourri,
Throwing them
into closets,
and cabinets,
and dark bathroom drawers.
Pasting decoupage all over
Toilet seats
And door handles.
She breaks china for mosaics,
Melts silverware for stained glass.
Lately,
She’s been unfolding like a flower,
Layering.
She’s cracked free
And seeps like an egg
Into the pores of the kitchen grout.
Colleen Mills
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Tattoo by Luba Goldina
Copyright © 2009 Colleen Mills (poetry); Luba Goldina (art). All Rights Reserved.