Photography © Jennifer Matthews

 

You Ask Me to Write You a Poem

You ask me to write you a poem
to loop the words
over the lined pages
noisily like rainfall
against the clock’s tick-tock

It shouldn’t take much
to look up
from my origami-making
to stop the hands
from shaping the paper
into the body
and wings of a crane

Yet the rain beats down
the clock ticks on
and my ink runs dry
leaving me inadequate
to capture the essence
of your face
your heart

 

Jackie Chou holds a BA degree in Creative Writing from the University of Southern California, where she studied and held the position of vice president in a cultural organization, an experience she looks upon with nostalgia which still influences her poetry today. She has published one collection of poetry and is working on a second book.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.