Never

I never realized how deep
a paper cut could wound.
Never realized the sting of slicing paper
could be sharper than a dagger.
Never thought the words “I love you”
could shatter my world, my dreams.
But then I never thought I’d see them
written by you
but not to me.

---

Old Dinner-Time Rituals

Setting the table,
I’d stop and wonder why
the teaspoons
went on the table,
and the tablespoon
measured the instant tea.
It didn’t make sense.
I figured whoever
was in charge of naming things
had got mixed up,
and I was stuck
trying to remember
nonsensical sense,
because at 5 years old,
I didn’t have the power
to change what a spoon
was called.

Now, I’ve learned
to make sense
out of nonsense.
A table is bigger
than a tea bag,
so it does make sense
if you don’t mind
a little twisted logic.
I’ll take twisted logic
because at 37,
I still don’t have the power
to change what a spoon
is called.

I started studying writing and poetry at The Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts at the age of 12. Now, I am a happily married mother of two girls living in Northwest Ohio who works for a physician's network. My poetry has appeared in about 43 print/web zines, and I've performed at several places around Toledo over the last several years. I am a member of the rock/spoken word band Logic Alley (www.logicalley.com), and Director of Minstrel Soup Artist’s Coalition.

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