Photography © Jennifer Matthews

 

Polyfloral As We Are

Honeynut hues simmer near the shade
of rainbow eucalypts—canopies wide
enough to splay an array of prismatic

disco-stars. Grooviness here and every
there, where the world denies darkness.

It etches everything, even song and scent
and honeysuckle sweet. We keep our
honey crops chockablock with dogma, ready

to spew out our view through even prayer,
instead of allowing the honeybird to guide us.

As labile as weather, we weigh out the
|authenticity| against a feather that tickles
the world into sneezing. There’s no EpiPen

large enough to aid in what ails Earth. Because,
ultimately, it’s us—crazed with our mad honeys.

Downplaying our waggle to a tremble and
always confusing our hand gestures; because
as polyfloral as we are, we’re still not blood

sisters or spit-palm brothers. For that, we’d have
to be bound by a blessed stole in a holy cave

of candlesmoke, where hands press on hands
and everything glows with honeynut hues as if
a moment soaked in civil twilight is somehow

purified. As if evaporated honeydew, stored for
centuries, can heal what we continue to ignore.

 

Sarah E N Kohrs, in addition to being addicted to writing poetry, is a potter. She gleans inspiration for both from the natural world, whether that’s the six hours of daylight in frost-fringed Alaska or the quiet stance of bristlecone pines in Nevada or the rolling blue mountains encompassing Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where she lives. SENK homeschools her youngest son; appreciates a good campfire, especially when her husband plays the bagpipes; and savors games and lavender vanilla chai with her three sons.

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.