Poet. Writer. Photographer.
The pull of the day,
of the years,
of everyone’s needs
leaves shadows
and cavities
from ebb’s
never-ending
taking,
but the sun’s
reflection
warms me
in oranges,
and the glow
stays.
The light
one way
or another
will
illuminate,
independent of
ever reaching
that haunted,
hollowed
space.
Poem and images ©LauraDenise
Not a beanstalk,
but it might as well be,
magic seeds
sprouting the way
to giant dreams,
and in the center,
a sunbeam
passes through
a hole in a leaf
purposefully
to reach me,
or is it simply that light
is at the center
of all belief?
Insignificant
the manmade pier seems,
foolishly leading
horizontally…
Poem and image ©LauraDenise
White wings keep beating
when the heart and soul
begin to dim or slow.
Wings do not know
loss of hope.
Let wings carry you
until strength
and faith
regrow.
Let me be
those wings
for a while, for a leg
of the way
home…
Poem and image ©LauraDenise
The sea oats
have grown tall;
I let them
skim my palm,
feel the tickles
gifted from heaven
as the sea’s soul
is orchestra lifted
above the tides
of this earth
to scoop me up
with open arms
into the surf.
I offer all I’ve brought
to sacrifice to God,
releasing the heavy,
releasing the pain,
hoping the ghosts
will choose escape
as I make it more
uncomfortable
to haunt these
inner spaces
tarnished, turning gold
from the light
of love
joining the soul’s.
My feet sink
in the warm silk
as my heart,
with you inside,
even more
fills.
Buoyant become
the weights
as the shackles and chains
give way
to become part
of the dark, watery
grave.
Today, I take
back my life.
Today the curse,
I unwind.
Wet feet,
sand clinging,
I walk back
and through my fingers,
the sea oats feel
the difference
as the sun
awakens,
rises to kiss
me so gently
once
again….
Poem and images ©LauraDenise
I could write of love
for the rest of my days
with your soul in mine,
a combined light
revealing new ways,
and His grace
lacing the glow –
seamless, stitchless,
healing to whole –
but love and light
is what I’ve written
all along;
perhaps that’s the path
that led you
home to my arms.
I’ll keep the faith,
I’ll hold onto hope,
keep my eye on the light
and the hidden holes.
Don’t want to turn
any more wrong ways,
been searching too long,
I’m ready to stay
right here with you
no matter the world;
we’ll see Love through,
we’ll break the spells,
chancellors of all
that’s good and pure and true,
we’ll bring it out,
stay beautiful.
Let’s keep the faith;
He’ll see us through.
Let’s find more light
and share it, too.
Poem and image ©LauraDenise
My heart was open.
I think it always was,
which makes it so susceptible
to feeling too much
the lack of love,
the layers of loss.
My heart was open
when you came along.
Lucky, I was.
But I know you were led.
The same light as mine
has found me
again.
Poem and images ©LauraDenise
Forever is the moment
that stills me
when everything
is swirling inside
my heart, my soul,
my mind…
Forever is the moment
that absolves me,
that nature bestows,
head bowed or not,
heart knotted or atoned.
Forever is the moment
that holds me
so personally close,
the rays extended
to touch
with warmth.
Forever is the moment
that soaks me,
in waves that rebirthe
or ripples that trickle
to my inner caverns
where I buried
the treasure
of me
in a chest of fear,
where only the mermaids
are entrusted
with the key
shaped from
my tears.
Forever is the moment
I carry with me
in every moment
I am away
from the sea.
Poem and images ©LauraDenise
Some were built for height,
some false with imitation bark,
some ill-fated by others’ fires,
some have witnessed the sparks.
The dark, the light,
rotates and falls
upon each equally.
Some were meant to
sky-reach.
Some use the sun’s love
to bloom in delicate
and fleeting beauty.
At the feet of giant trees,
with whom I have always
felt most rooted,
in white lace and ray’s kiss
still fresh on my crown,
I have never been so at peace
with who I’ve found
I’ve always been.
Wherever I go now,
it is me who I am.
Poem and image ©LauraDenise
Kiss me
like the dawn
blushes the petals’ soft pinks,
gradual illumination
that candle-flickers
inside of me.
Chill the red wine.
Don’t cut red roses.
Just be the soft drizzle
of rain upon love’s garden.
We can restore
the passion
when the moon rises,
but for now,
linger on me longer
in the slow romance of
the morning.
Poem and image ©LauraDenise
Laura Denise 