I never
stop
running toward
while running away
from your
dark
fragments of
reality,
those pulling you
away
from here
and now,
even when it
breaks me
too
B.Y. Penman 2021
I am
your soft place
to land
when the world's edges
grow sharp
in your mind,
try to
slice you
up
I am
your soft place
to land
when the world
spins madly
then lurches,
tries to
buck you
off
I am
your soft place
to land
when the demons
lunge out
of the shadows
of your thoughts,
try to
throw you
down
B.Y. Penman 8-26-21
Cabbie asked
"how was your day?"
"busy,
but good."
I lie
through my
practiced smile
of coping,
swallow back
the true words
churning
in the pit
of my belly,
threatening
to erupt
on the backseat
of the cab,
blue projectile vomit
of despair
and heartbreak
I should
be used to it
by now
news of crisis
unpredictable acts
aggression
like a light switch
gets flicked
in your brain;
they tell me to let go
put you in a tidy box
of serenity
but it doesn't fit
me or you,
the umbilical cord
won't let the lid shut
I can feel you
as I sit here
waiting for news
B.Y. Penman 8-17-21
I worship
in the temple
of art
feed my soul
through
the eyes
of others
symbols flow
like watercolour
on wet paper
and bleed,
free flow
into me
B.Y. Penman 8-25-21
I found my voice
on an old
turquoise blue
Underwood
lost it for a while
drowned out
by the din
of life
swallowed my words
and they ate me
from the inside
out
can you hear me
now?
© B.Y. Penman 2020
