Swing, Pendulum

A poem by Julia R. DeStefano

Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash

Swing, Pendulum

I am that girl -

that writer, that spy

peering underneath the covers

to catch a glimpse of her naked soul.

She has the shakes tonight.

Goosebumps filling sun-drenched skin

as she calls on a vision to melt the ice.

Ignite the flame.

But the pendulum has frozen solid

to encapsulate her in silence—

that raging animal on her trail —

where laughter once reigned

and blood ran hot

amid the gold light of her Queendom.

Please do not envy her heart

with its little secrets

and the icicles that reform

with silence’s thrusts.

Connection’s bond can thaw it,

not the strain of hot-and-cold

or the reoccurring bone-chill of ice.

Build her not a country,

but offer her shelter.

Feel her in her state

by keeping your light on.

© Julia R. DeStefano