Three Poems

(previously published)
Arachne's Turn

(first published in Star*Line 27.3)


Athena, 
goddess of wisdom and weaving,
sits up in bed, 
smiles self-satisfied, 
and watches Helios' chariot through her window--
rising from the hills.

Filling her lungs 
with crisp morning air,
she stifles a yawn, stretches--
her fingers pass through dusty strands.

Athena, 
goddess of wisdom and weaving,
wipes her hands on bedsheets,
gapes at variegated veins 
of sticky thread 
coating her goosefleshed arms.

Leaping from bed, 
She slips her feet into downy strings.
Hundreds of lacy constrictions 
plastering her legs.

Athena, 
goddess of wisdom and weaving,
gazes around her room--
squints as Helios' glare
reflects off shimmering sheets upon sheets 
of intricate, woven cobweb.

Her curse is muffled 
as silken loops float from above, 
settle over her head
and tighten about her throat.

 

Aftermath
(published in Star*Line 26.4, 2003)


Downtown.
Neon signs no longer glow,
but the dust does.

diaspora 

(published in Star*Line volume 26.)


through watered eyes 
i gape at stars, 
alone 
at night 
in my little garden. 

with hoarsened voice 
i curse the stars, 
yelling 
at night 
from my little island. 

with insincere wrist 
i wave the stars 
farewell. 
diaspora bound, 
leaving my little planet. 

after supper 
i squint between the stars, 
at the dark spaces 
where no one looks. 

thirteen billion 
souls wink back at me.