poem: Written for a Living Poet 5: A Field Guide to Dragons

for all that we have been told

of roses and hearts

       and glittery rainbows

the act of writing poetry

       is still a man's domain

by and large;

women write of "female interests"

      and men define

the laws, morals-

   ask the toughest questions

 are known as the new epithet:

"wow so Smart!!"

  [add a couple of hearts and smiley

faces in there for effect]

      for being clever. 

but there is a defining edge

  cleverness and art

 sometimes, not always

   cross paths and purpose.

 There are shores

    we all wallk alone,

  riptides we do not put our

      toes in, knowing

how quickly one will get

   simply sucked under.

there are dragons none of us,

    men, women or otherwise,

  ever slayed. The reason

is deceptively uncomplicated.

   We have trained our eyes

  not to see them- neither the

scales they leave scattered

     on breakfast tables in-between

marital silences; nor the snot

  they leave in endlessly filthy

drains in bathtubs and

 kitchen sinks;

    nor the scorched places

in the conjugal bedclothes.

these are the reptiles of

   our dysfunction, the worms

of discontent. Like Blake's

   unnamed pestilence, they

gnaw at the heart of all

      we once believed, was true

  and good. Very few men venture

into their lairs, even by accident.

and here you come, respresenting

  "the fairer sex" walking in beauty,

acquainted with the night

 armed with a ruler, weighing device,

  watercolors inks and pens,

spectrophotometer. Walking

    among us, walking shorelines,

mapping the feeding places

  of animals;

dipping whole legs, not just toes,

  into undertows, studying the

      riptides of the North Atlantic.

the unarmed Poetess, the knight

   in humble rags. Examining

the way the sun

  glints just so after a household

     tempest, reflecting off the spines

   of dinosaurs, roses, and books.

 Sketching from the places

    where "real life" intersects

with "might-have-beens,"

 dissecting the internal anatomy

   of the disillusioned heart.

Creating nothing less

  than our own

    "Ilustrated Field Guide

to the Dragons of New England."

for Linda. because it was far past time

 that someone wrote something, for you.

Happy Birthday, 2014.

Reviews

[Horizon K.]

Another incredible tribute and your reverence for Linda caused me to visit her page. So glad I did too, for I found incredible art there. Thank you for your big heart, dear. It indeed takes a rare pair of eyes, an unafraid heart, that will explore those dark places even the dragons fear, return, and tell us what they found. Maybe we too will be encouraged to be so brave and take a look. The prize after all, is knowing ourselves..

[Marie Anzalone]

Glad you found her. I consider her, hands-down, one of the best writers on the site, and one of th efinest poets I have read, anywhere. Her work is unflinching, as great poetry should be. Thanks for the read, review, and acknowledgment. Feel free to pass on word of her work... she deserves to be read far more than she is.

[Cory Barrett]

What a strong tribute! Seems as though i have some reading to do.

[Marie Anzalone]

thank you very much, Cory- it is good to see your words on my page. I have bene largely absent dealing with insane deadlines and bad internet access but hope to be back soon.

[taittems]

Excellent poem, I particularly like the ending. Love these lines" dissecting the internal anatomy
of the disillusioned heart."

[Marie Anzalone]

thank you very much, taittems, for your kind review.

[LJW]

Thank you.
Speechless.
Best birthday present, ever.

[Marie Anzalone]

you are both most welcome and worth it :-)

[Emily B]

She makes me proud to be a woman poet, so do you!

[Marie Anzalone]

As I said to kortas, I consider her easily among the greats. She works so hard, she is so detialed, so specific, so deep in her writing. I remember when I doscovered her work, I was afraid to review at first- feeling like I was not worthy (had the same reaction to kortas, ironically). You have all helped me at least see that I am. But still, when I can write like Ms. Linda, I will call myself a writer. I thank you for both the kind words and the review. And please do not ever sell you rown talent short. Linda's often cut to the bone; yours to the heart.

[LJW]

Emily....thank you.

[W.k.kortas]

Terrific piece, and, yes, about time.

[Marie Anzalone]

She is in a league of her own, as studied and experimental and painfully honest as any of the greats. It took me a while to find the words for her. I apprecaite the review and compliment, my friend. Hopefully, computer problems will resolve enough tomorrow to let me get back to reviewing.

[LJW]

W.k...thank you.