Climb

I climb curtain lengths,
maroon velvet soft. Shades
light, no cracks here. Hiding
nakedness from passing flies.

Reaching (always reaching) for the top
as if that were far enough,
long enough, close enough
to bring a smile to your face.

Still, I climb. One foot always
dangerously perched on the edge,
willing my ankle to twist
so that I'll accidentally fall.

by E. M. Soos

Riverbed

I could point you out on the riverbed
The only rock that hasn't changed
Cold, wet, hard, gray, unmovable.
Unmovable. I drift past you
Reduced to granite, stuck, glued
Wedged. I'll drift as long as I can.

by E. M. Soos

On This Island

He handled it with gloves
Dribbled water down, down.
I could count those drops backwards.
Hesitating, I swallowed the gray pill.
Never did know my life amounted to this much
The size of a raisin. I pull, and pull, and pull.
You will get smaller, carved down
To a pumpkin seed. Dried out
From flesh scooped away.
The gray dissolves in me.
You suck on it greedily.
I am the widow that killed her husband
This black veil won't stay on long.
The gray escapes me slowly
So slowly, an old limping man in disguise.
When he turns the corner, out of sight
He'll have taken you with him
And your hold on me.

by E. M. Soos