The History of Manhattan
THE HORIZONTAL PASTURES —
MORPHED INTO THE VERTICAL —
STUFFED SKYSCRAPERS —
BRIMMING WITH HUMANITY —
The History of Manhattan
THE HORIZONTAL PASTURES —
MORPHED INTO THE VERTICAL —
STUFFED SKYSCRAPERS —
BRIMMING WITH HUMANITY —
I wonder what voices sound like after my loved ones transition above.
I only hear my Maggi’s voice in my memories.
I wonder what voices sound like now If I don’t have my hearing aids on.
I have severe sensory hearing losses in each ear and cannot hear.
I wonder what it would be like to walk, skip, run and jump again.
I have pain in my back and poor balance in my body and need a walker to walk.
I wonder, if I close my eyes and take deep breaths will I dream of days gone by
When I could hear and do physical things.
I wonder if I dream of life going forward
What would it be like as I travel my life’s journey.
I wonder…
My tears flowed like the falls of Niagara in the dusk of dawn the night your love returned.
Relieved/regret to be alive, still giving strength to our undying love.
My drug, my addiction, my life, my everything.
I was born under a Pisces moon
For a long time I didn’t know
Or if I had, I don’t know if it would have mattered
And I don’t believe in star signs
But I’m a very Virgo sun
And more of a Pisces moon than I ever could have imagined
Or perhaps I could have imagined
But like the moon there were times when almost none of me was visible
When I was reduced to a sliver of myself
I felt small, I remember that
How could I ever have felt small when I can create worlds with my mind?
How could I have felt small when I am so many things?
British and Brazilian
Scientist and writer
Pastel blue and midnight navy
Virgo sun and Pisces moon
SOPHIE By Diane Gatto
When we first saw you, I must confess, you were not looking so good, you were truly a mess.
You had no fur on your legs, tail or around your eyes, You smelled pretty bad too no real surprise.
The foster care mom said you had some skin issues and had you on meds, I thought ok I’ll take you and went out and bought you a bed.
“I’ll be back for this sweet doggie get her cleaned up please” I said to the lady, She must have thought “this woman is crazy.”
She said you were about two and a half maybe three years old, and someone just threw you out into the cold.
At first I had to bathe you every single day, I tried this, I tried that, was anything working I couldn’t really say.
After trying two or three I found just the right Vet, He said a more determined lady he had never met.
Soon your fur grew in and we could see what a pretty little lady you can be!
As the months turned into years you brought us much joy, You would run down the hallway and bring back your toy.
Molly and Zorro were here quite a while, Zorro said, “You’ve got me, you don’t need another furry child.”
Come on kitties make room for just one more, Who knows what fun she may have in store?
One day out of clear blue you ate something that made you very sick, But with lots of love and care it was just the trick.
You managed to pull through almost two more years, You said, “I’m not ready hold on to your tears.”
But alas my sweet darling all good things soon come to an end, You have been there for me and been a best friend.
All we know is twelve years with you was not enough, facing each day will surely be tough.
I look at the places where you once slept, and every night in your bed next to me on the floor. It will never be the same when we walk inside the door.
You would bark as if to say, “Where were you mommy? Where on earth did you go?” My heart is broken sweet baby girl, I will love your forever for this I well know.
PEONIES By Diane Gatto
You may cut my beautiful flowers and put them in a vase, I will open up into something spectacular that will truly amaze.
Leave me alone I am my own little festival, Everything near me pales as I am quite the spectacle.
I am a proud little flower I cannot help but boast, If you add me to your garden I know you will love me most.
I am well worth waiting for though my blooms will be brief, Enjoy me quickly as my time here is a thief.
in tiny beats,
petite sparrows
peck in presto rhythm
for seeds in winter grass.
bobbing ’round
like dusky rocks,
not feeling the tapping
of snowflakes on feathers.
tiny legs and beaks
pick and pip
near the colossal feet
of vigorous tree trunks.
sudden flights
then coil wildly up,
the course choreographed
for the charms of branch-roosting.
I envy the brisky birds
then dropping small like stones,
pecking and bobbing low,
busy again in the simmering cold.
From the time I was a teen…I thought about…I dreamed
that someday there would be…a little girl in my life
the years would pass…sons would be born…giving me happiness and joy
and yet I wondered…what it would be like to have…a little girl in my life
the sons became men…they married…grandsons were born
I wondered if there would ever be…a little girl in my life
then came the phone call…from far, far away
that she was finally on her way…and soon there would be
a little girl in my life.
while I may never hold this baby…or feel her soft newborn freshness
against my cheek…I will know that she is finally here
a little girl in my life
I will be the face on a screen…or a box in the mail
but she will be…finally…a little girl in my life
It is said dogs have masters
Cats have staff
Cats are smart enough
To have the last laugh
Damning the earth
Is it too late to leave?
Leaking from breasts
and womb
and eyes
Strength that should not exist
Cradling the earth
In my fragile hands
Doubt, emotion
will loom
consume
doom
I am not worthy
Gazing at the earth
Something so big
in tiny eyes
My fragile hands
will give it to yours
and help you hold it
above salt water
Navigating the earth
My heart now existing
on the outside
I will blame myself
for loving too hard
fearing too often
Failing and wailing
The happiest times
of my life
North and South poles
One does not exist
without the other
Motherhood is
My new Earth