April Poetry: Lori Benjamin

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate and highlight our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to again offer daily poetry during April.

Bedroom Plans: Summer

— by Lori Benjamin —

The bed slides outside
with the touch of a finger

soft pencil on graph paper. Voices
scarcely stopping to sleep

The piano waits upstairs. Her city shoes
have questions.

But his eyes hold steady, laugh lines intact.

How will they fare? New hearts,
newly opened –

chests laid bare against a wide,
moonless night

Untitled

— by Lori  Benjamin —

Dappled forest, quiet
damp bark-like the opposite
of foxglove, waving in the sun
……………………………..No –
here the inside of my head can rest
in silence
…………on mossy earth-turned log
grieving with the full weight of the body

How does one react to the dream
of another mass shooting…How do the bones feel
about oceans turned dark
and lifeless………….the cave of the mind
rests there like mud on a wasp sting
mushroom spores like monks…..chanting
in a register
so low it sinks the heart
………………………….swallows it whole
where it…too…can rest
fall apart like a seed
there…in the belly