Poetry...

Elizabeth Larson

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Poetry...

The Painter - E.Larson (2005)

I imagine him half-naked colored with oil paint
Waving his arms flailing-frantic
Touching his brush upon a blank canvas
Emotion flowing out from his heart
Through his arms
In rhythms unseen.

Making art, creating forms, creating life upon flatness
imagery of dreams sharing a history of his life
Blending color together to burn upon our eyes
A magnificent masterpiece.

I imagine him questioning where to put the next stroke
What color to use
Leaning back, against a wall, brush between his teeth, contemplating
His hair disheveled.

The smooth scent of colors on a pallet fill the room
Jars of turpentine with brushes
Swimming.

The light of the room, now muted at sunset
As he sits on a stool, bathed with heavy sweater, smoking
Gazing at his accomplishments.

Alarm - E. Larson (2005)

My morning call...alarm clock

Waiting for my fingers to relase it

From it's screaming

Through the blackness of my morning vision

My snooze reflex...

Flexes.

In that moment dreams melt, become reality

And I realize...I'm still me...

Oh, I'm still me.

I'm not that luscious beautiful woman

That my night mind

Made me out to be.

I'm not the greatest of lovers

Romantically reeling

In exotic passions.

I'm the woman who's awaken

To the sound

Of unrelenting buzzing.

A buzzing in me bolts me out

From the comfort

Of my bed.

And I pierce my own eyes

With the image of myself

And I notice...that salesman sold me a lemon.

So, I pick up your photograph

And study it hard

And I look at myself and I see the scars

That you left behind on my soul

When you

Bolted out the door.

What an alarm THAT was!

'Cause I briefly thought

You were different

And I briefly thought my imagination

Had been laid to rest

But your movements, your inflections...proved me wrong.

Standing here

Naked

Staring into a mirror.

I can still see where you touched me, even though my eyes are closed.

I'm alone...and that clock is still tickin'

Growing louder with every minute.

My heart dislocated

Beating within

Every poor sap who took pity on me...once.

The snooze is OVER

I've gotta get myslef up

And out of here.

I've got to mindlessly maneuver

Through another day

Devoid of your you.

I've got to pull it together

I've got to pull ME together

I've got to realize my reactions to these things

Are often more involved that the things are themselves.

My brain took it's pleasure

Making you into an adonis...a cassanova

A romantic Romeo.

So much so that my eyes were covered

In the grey veil

Of your actions.

And I didn't see you move away when I reached out to you.

My funhouse mirror of a mind distorted the truth.

But...what IS the truth?

Is it that creative story you told me about loving ONLY me?

Or is it what I was made out to be?

That sucker punch left me breathless and reeling

A spinning top blending colors until it stops.

WAIT! There it is again...buzzing!

The alarm clock awakens me from it's silent snooze

And catches me...thinking.

Woman - E. Larson (2005)

She doesn't walk
She floats
Languidly across the room
Liquid
She is
Liquid.

Her beauty is magnificent
Mysterious
Like a taste you've tasted
For the first time
Unsure of it as it touches your lips
Yet you like it.

Her hair is twisted loosely
On the back of her head
It's tenderils lick her neck
Grace her shoulders
Frame her face.

She can see beyond what normal people
Envision
She sees into things
Deeply
With emotion
And lust for life.

Her words punctuate every thought she has
Adding brilliant color and energy
To every part of her being
To every thought
To her.

She is a woman
A woman who I love
A woman who stands proudly
Despite all that life has thrown into her path
And she steps over it all
Gracefully
With a statuesque presence
And continues to be unbroken.

She is strong.
Beautiful.
Powerful.

She is woman.

Stuck - E. Larson (2005)

Sitting here in this silent, empty room, I am

Drinking down my emotions

Holding tight to my self-confidence

Which likes to run away with any passing thief

Quickly, like a blowing across concrete, leaf.

I'm stuck, and broken, confused beyond belief

The image of you still burned into my grey matter

Melting the parts of me I thought I had control of

And control of it all is lost and flying

Wildly away as I continue to sit writing.

So I'm hoping that the intricate surgery will forever remove you from me

I will throw every bit of you I own into a fire

And when you're done burning I'll gather your ashes

And float them upon the next wind that catches.

But when I wasn't looking you threw a padlock on my heart

And forgot to leave me the key

And I'm reaching out for the next locksmith

To remove your hold on me.

Up To You - E. Larson (2005)

You've kept me here - suspended - high above the ground

For so long I can't recall the feel of the grass

Beneath my bare feet - or the warmth of concrete.

I've been your main source of entertainment

Held under the watchful eye of your available time

Drop me down - I've got things to do - without you.

I admit, yes, it's partially my fault

I've allowed this to grow into something so strange

Now my mind doesn't know how to go.

I want to cut the puppet wires that hold me in this place

But my knife is dull and never cuts all the way through

So I guess it's up to you. I guess it's up to you.

Suddenly - without a sound - you let me go

Now I'm buried alone in this huge pile of shit

And I've gotta shovel my way out of it.

I'll find a gap - push on through - and carry on

And when I emerge from this mess

I know you'll be gone. I know you'll be gone.

I'll try to shut off my imagination, but you've got to help

'Cause these casual occasions always lead to something else

And we can't do that anymore.

Next Step - E. Larson (2005)

So convincing, you are

With your mystical manifestation of music

Working it's way around and enclosing me within.

You're like the pied piper

And I'll follow anything

That gives me a second glance.

So mysterious, you are

With your "call as you please" affliction

That leaves me eternally pondering

The meaning of our direction

I have a fear of the unknown

Yet everywhere I turn, I'm faced with it

Because I followed you home.

You allowed me to come in

Gave me the grand tour of everything you own

How could I NOT get lost?

And you sent me on my way

And upon my lips - the night you sealed with a passionate kiss

Inflaming my desires.

And you leave me wondering

When the NEXT BEST THING will happen again

And draw me further in.

There's just enough distance to keep me here

And as I get ready to give up

Your phone call gives me hope.

For another instance in time

You've captured me like a photograph

Still. Motionless. Awaiting the next step.

I'd wait for an eternity

Because all the signs here point to YES

And I'm not going to take no for an answer

Let yourself go

Just give me a chance

And let me love you.