Trish Shields, CA

 

 

Cinquain Temptations chocolates, wine and flowers sit unopened, waiting. Two lovers become one, dessert later.     Mirror Cinquain The Special One Fingers trace each letter that holds her sister's work; a tear drips on her check and mine, both lost in thoughts both harsh and sweet—she will forever be a child, no dreams of what could be.     Nonce Cinquain I, witness* Haunted still after years of living outside Hell, dragged back in when I fall asleep each night. Damning eyes gaze at me—children with mouths tightly closed, unable to assign blame, tortured; their innocence is made more horrible as 'we' stand by, indifferent to Death. Children haunt my days, too, their phantom forms yearning for a life lost, waiting to have their chance.   *children all over the world die from abuse, neglect and starvation.     Cinquain Sequence Kalahari Shadows Honeys* lie curled in dens, mother wrapped around pup; matted fur cleaned, her night vigil begins. Later as mother hunts, the heat closes his eyes— a hawk circles overhead, her eyes keen. Sharp barks pull him awake and he tumbles slowly down into their den—mother bites his ear. Days pass, without event; she scavenges alone— he's too young and hides from hunting jackals. Sunrise bathes the desert red; mother howls with rage, her son's form stiff, his killer's trail blatant. Eight weeks later, she's fat with a new badger pup— she keeps it safe from cannibal hunters.   *The honey badger or ratel has a reputation as a fearless creature. It regularly eats poisonous snakes, and also raids the nests of bees for honey. This badger is found across most of Africa and the near East.     Cinquain Korean Drift* yellowed letters, waiting in a box for a time when tears have dried—their lives held such promise   *Many couples drifted apart after the soldier went away to war. And of course many didn't come back or if they did were not whole in mind or body and simply disappeared from family and friends.     Nonce Cinquain Sedge Meadow Bliss Sandhills dance across the wetlands, foreplay mingled with love tokens, complex calls and preening. Mated pairs guard their clutch, taking turns on vigil until the chicks hatch—hungry mouths command every moment, slurping down all they're offered—harried pairs wait; fledglings at last! The pair dance as they dine, watching the sun's journey— their romance continues each year for life.     Sijo Degrees of Separation The pious come to the Wailing Wall then quickly disappear. Their pain intoned, interred, left behind as grains of red sand— each prayer writhes, dry and rootless, lost as dust in the wind.