Mirror and Fountain*

soulmindbody
Written By Rachelle Edwards

I ascend to surface 
the beating heart of a liquid drum  

I ascend the lengthening wave   
as it crests above me 

I ascend with the aphonic effect 
of blue-green algae  

pacific in its virulent calm

I ascend in isolated breaths 
molecules dismember in my lungs  

I ascend in starlight  
the planetary refraction of waves 
and the slow eclipse of the moon’s unconscious eye 

I ascend to represent
the evolution of seen and unseen 

beyond the politeness of color

transparent yet perceived
filling with the conscious invisible 
a hollow amorphic expanse 

I ascend the tranquil bubble 
squeaking out of the abyss 
at the center of the galaxy  

I ascend in fear of being a rendition 
of human insignificance 

fear of the restless reactive force 
destructive and blinding
that gives fault a proper noun 

gives seance instead of prayer
recalling the misfortune in latitude 
that which resonates within me  

I ascend the majesty of the crow’s iridescent feather
masking an elaborate dance

I ascend with rhythmic tongues
crickets singing in lulling hums 
the dark peripheral origins of love  

I ascend, I ascend

 

©Rachelle Edwards 2020
*a pastiche of Janka Stucky

Rachelle Edwards

Rachelle Edwards is a poet, word-agitator and unconventional feminist. After kicking the American educational system to the curb, she decided to devote her time to reading, writing, and teaching her children to be authentic, inquisitive individuals. She was mentored by poet Christopher Kondrich, whose poetry book Valuing won the 2019 National Poetry Series, and poet Christine Hemp, who has taught writing at Harvard University and Iowa Summer Writing Program. When Rachelle is not reading or writing, she can usually be found talking to her plants.

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