Shattered, or: Infinite

Poetry Partners #46

A poem by Karina Lutz of ‘Poetry for the Great Turning’

The heirloom mirror
doubled the living room.
She loved looking in it
and seeing them:
mother, grandmother,
memories: the smiles
her own turned into
when her own face faded
to background.

Foreground: meaning 
they'd each added to the object.

Each recall:
another layer of patina,
darkening of age.
smudging of detail,
dodging and burning
in the darkroom,
colorization of sepia.

One day, as she looked,
the mirror literally let go of the wall.
On the ground:
shards.

• Karina Lutz: https://karinalutz.wordpress.com/

A Cadralor by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

(composed of 5 kimos)

I.

heart long still, decomposing in the earth;
family and friends gathered;
a headstone erected

II.

shattered, old heart equipped with pacemaker,
he barely survives his wife;
loving children worried

III.

small child deeply absorbs his parents' pain;
cannot comprehend an end;
draws them hearts and flowers

IV.

ear to her bare chest, he hears her heartbeat;
his tears glisten on her breast,
solace in lovemaking

V.

sharp shards of shattered heart in her mirror
continue pulsing as one
around infinity

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Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

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List of Poetry Partners