Paisley and Plaid

Implicit information
explicitly shown in
woven paisley and
plaid prints in the
days before the word
victim fit

mirrored in a face in
smiled kindness
when compassion
emptied out into a
moment hidden
from view as

needs were met
not hers’ and when
morning came scars
unseen played out in
emotions walking
with her cavalier

a life seeming like any
other but transformed
into a daydreaming

nightmare seen in
paisley and plaid as
unadorned  fodder

© April 2012 Renee Espriu

Beautiful Feet

Hair silver strands of silk
sunlight dancing against her
face drawn but still youthful
few age lines caress her face
time tenderly holds as dear

Looking down her eyes light
on beautiful feet that
still loved to dance

Eyes in the mirror remember
times youth was her friend
running alongside her as she
played the wind in her hair
train flying down the tracks

Looking down her eyes light
on beautiful feet that
still loved to dance

Visions of newborn babies
light ’round her head with
cries of delightful chatter
growing into children who
quickly grew having their own

Looking down her eyes light
on beautiful feet that
still loved to dance

Aging shows in her reflection
a body very slowly moving
her mind cradles the energy
youth once displayed now
disparaged by passing years

Looking down her eyes light
on beautiful feet that
still loved to dance

© December 2011 Renee Espriu

My mother aged gracefully, I felt, although her ill health made life very difficult but in the few years just prior to her death, she would mention now and again how her feet were still nice looking. Her own mother’s feet were knarled and unsightly due to arthritis so I believe it was important to her somehow that her own remained beautiful. She  loved to dance so having feet still able to do so was important to her.

Nature’s Mirror

Filtered warmth reaches
out caressing window panes
roof tops in the dawn of
a chilling Fall morning

Yellow golden orb with
rays so real they feel as
a solid mass of butter a
tongue tasting delicious

Every surface a reflection
gleaming it’s majesty tinted
ecstasy held as in nature’s
mirror coveting it’s own

© November 2011 Renee Espriu

Transparent Illusions

Facsimile of illusions
shown as
reflections in
a mirror
revealing hidden images
known only
to ourselves and
not others
as transparency
shows nothing
kept
secret
who you really
are is
trapped inside
the mirror

© October 2011 Renee Espriu

Creation With Fire

Iridescent quality of the
incandescence of burning hot
flames tended to in the oven
to breathe life in an effort
becoming, evolving, creating

Reminiscent now of the epitaph
cold to the touch once burning
brightly but now on a granite
headstone quiet in a graveyard
resting ‘neath a tree on a hill

Brilliantly colored and glazed
once held in hands turned on the
potter’s wheel made hard in the
fire baked to perfection holding
bread on someone’s supper table

Mirror brilliant reflecting images
back to the viewer once held by
glass maker’s hands to blow air
within, the heat not breaking, now
viewed in awe in the shop window

White hot the flames fly a shower
of sparks threatening to burn the
artist’s hands ever-present seeking
solace in the knowing that fire is
creation to images unfolding within

© October Renee Espriu