| The Trees Were Whispering Madame's tongue, a caustic simoom Madame's heart, an arctic tempest coveting fire Anointing you with love, she hated you. You were not him. Caressing with numb hands, seeking through cataracts tasting vinegar in the sugar Rancid bouquets sting the nose as sober lyrics wrangle surdity Madame's enmitous speech singe the ear's palate Phyllis, Phyllis Hyman. Pittsburgh, PA. She loved you truly, because you were not him. I was told there was no Santa. I left him cookies and milk anyway. Madame wanted you to run her. You couldn't, the haha was too wide Suicide is painless. Madame's smiting mace nurtured exile. "Such a lovely corpse," I thought, as she took wing into the wind. Ironman's rust streaked down his face. Madame will light here when she returns, tender talons embracing me. Everyone will hear our silent song. "limpe para fora da dor, danca levemente ao sond da cor." The flowers shed tears. The trees whispered amongst themselves, "A voice shattered on the concrete." (c) 2000 Michael Bernard Sykes. All Rights Reserved. |
| Michael Bernard Sykes |
| Notes: simoom: a very hot and very dry Saharan wind that scorches everything. enmitous: bitterness, hate surdity: deafness haha: a moat or ditch used in defense limpe para fora da dor, danca levemente ao sond da cor: "Wipe out the pain, dance softly to the sound of color." Brazilian/Portuguese (line from a song by Milton Nascimento and Andreas Vollenweider. |
| Read Michael's Poem "untitled" |