© 2007 Alice Parris

PERIPHERAL VISIONS

MOVING OUT OF THE LIGHT, RUNNERS
EMERGE THROUGH LANDMINES,

MINDLESS.

DARKENED CYPRESS TREES
GIVE SHADE WHILE HARBORING

THE FRAGRANCE OF SWAMPLAND.

THE CYPRESS HAS BECOME A
HERO THAT WE MUST ALL ACKNOWLEDGE,

TOO SOON FORGET.

MIDDLE AGE HAS ITS FINER POINTS-
PUSHING PAST THE DEPRESSION,

I WANDER PAST A FRESHLY-PAINTED
FENCE- WHITE MARKS ON MY BACK.

SPARKS FLY LIKE DARK ANGELS
OUT OF THE CORNERS OF MY EYES;

I CANNOT SEE PAST

PERIPHERAL VISIONS DEEMED ORBITAL
HALLUCINATIONS.

STRETCH MARKS CRYING FROM NEWLY-
FILLED BREASTS. MILK DRIPPING IN

IMPATIENCE; WISDOM OF THE TONGUE

SILENCED.

All work is copyrighted property of Alice Parris.

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