Friday Mar 29

MaryAnnSamyn.jpg Mary Ann Samyn's most recent book of poetry is Beauty Breaks In (New Issues, 2009).  She teaches in the MFA program at West Virginia University.
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Cautionary
 
 
Peeling back the oh look!, there’s more.
 
—Set that aside.
And set that aside.
And set that aside.
 
…and if, when on your Lenten Journey, you need a friend…
 
CRASH-BANG!
 
I learned a long time ago;
 
cue the ocean; all my small-time hopes wait on a big gesture;
 
it’s a crawlspace, right?
 
And read again from The Mystery at Lilac Inn
 
            “Nancy’s fear gave way to curiosity…”
 
—the therein contained therein. 
 
 
 
 
Having Come This Far
 
 
The loneliness was so old! 
I had celebrated all of its birthdays.
 
Some verbs need helpers, my mother used to say.
Like the strings of an apron at the small of her back.
 
Today, a bird lay down in the grass.
Just like that, I’m telling myself.
 
If you knew how I thought of you,
you would say: this is a poem of praise.
 
 
 
 
It Most Certainly Is Edged in White
 
 
The book of birds knew a little about a lot.
 
I flipped through.
 
No one said trying harder would be easy.
 
A dove’s identifying feature
 
may or may not be peacefulness;
 
disjunction had been a performance;

I stopped complaining.
 
Starting now, no prayer goes unanswered.
 
 
 
It’s Been a Lovely October Thus Far
 
 
—Got the gist of it down; had another apple from the snack pack,
pre-sliced for my convenience.
 
The high school band practice drifts my way.
 
Will I always be lonely in towns with small-time civic pride?
 
At least I’ve done a good job of not filling the nothingness
with more of the same.
 
I consider the berries on the ivy: each one a little entrance
or exit.
 
My strength I learned a long time ago.