Silver nighttime clouds laced in amber trim
A dabble of Moonshine with twinkling gems
Caroling Thrushes tell of mirth and good season
The 'Song of Showers' speak as a thousand carillons with good reason
Twitch'n vane , twixt north then east ,
'tis the call of uncertain September breeze* ...

Night comes
r
     o l l i
               n g
                 down again
in painted coats
of thick onyx
clouding my vision
as if a brightly-striped
cuttlefish,
                sister of squid
has enveloped me
in its
dark liquid
           sea ink
an opaque vapor
for protection,
a shimmering
            sheild against
disillusionment
pain of potential
         loss
endless strands
of longing
knotting in my
hair like kelp
keeping me rooted
to the sea floor,
feet ensconced in
the soft squish
of muck and earth
Miraculously,
    I breathe,
as if a sea nympth,
a mermaid
holding on to
the silvery scales
of her reality
indigo-dipped
in deepest iridescence
blending with fronds
of vibrant greens
and I am floating
within a vast membrane
     of brine
somehow nuturing,
liquid cushion
of womb-water
letting it slake
the piquancy of thirst
that bursts my tongue
               into succulence
Spiked in sea stars
like thorny crowns,
I reach out to
discover new textures
puncture the dark
with my fingers
enfold those waters
      to me,
letting them
rock the soul
          of my soul
the heart
      of the seed
of my heart
   and allow my
sonar, as powerful
as a whale's
encompassing call
to surge up
through nautical miles
                      of ocean depths,
buoyed through layers
of waves
        up unto
the winds
that ride,
     ever-tenderly,
the surface
    of
       the
    dawn

My mind is hurtin'
from the words that were said
I can see your body
still imprinted in your bed
memories gone by
thinkin' they are dead
45 years of a sinnin' life
and my veins have all been bled

I had three children
and he was the other one
the only  two men I'd ever love
turned out to be my only sons
I was a lovin' Mother
I was a lovin' wife
the only two things that
I got right
in this... God-forsaken life

Hey Heaven
won't you open up that pearly gate
I'm hoping there's still a chance for us
and you & I
can end this hate
No I ain't no Holy Roller
and I know that it's your thing
But every once in a while
you
might wanna...hear me sing

I sang to you darlin'
when you were just a boy
when everything in life
looked like another toy
I wrote down those lyrics
in a favorite ol' song book
so I hope you open it up tonight
and give our life,
a second look...

Hey Heaven
won't you open up those pearly gates
he's standing in the front
so tall at six foot eight
Oh, I ain't no Holy Roller
but I'm askin' of the king
if I can join the angels
when they come to you and sing

I'm tired of wasting
and our time is growing old
I got more to say dear
our stories should be told
was ready for the lake of fire
and hopin' for the land of gold

I'm raising voices
and I'm not the only one
you and I we share this sound
and it's been a real good run
sang country, blues and rockin' roll
hell...
it was a lotta' fun

I sang for my lovers
and  I sang for my friends
times so sweet that I recall
remindin' me of when
I'm askin' as I go,  
and I'd do it all again

Hey Heaven
won't you open up those pearly gates
I hope you're not closing
I hope I'm not coming late
No...I ain't no Holy Roller
but you know
I can't stop this thing
and every once in a while
I see you when you smile
and I know you  like...
to hear me sing


Cherie Nolan 2016