End of April

Phillis Levin

Under a cherry tree
I found a robin’s egg,
broken, but not shattered.

I had been thinking of you,
and was kneeling in the grass
among fallen blossoms

when I saw it: a blue scrap,
a delicate toy, as light
as confetti

It didn’t seem real,
but nature will do such things
from time to time.

I looked inside:
it was glistening, hollow,
a perfect shell

except for the missing crown,
which made it possible
to look inside.

What had been there
is gone now
and lives in my heart

where, periodically,
it opens up its wings,
tearing me apart.

from The Afterimage, 1996
Copper Beech Press, Providence, RI

Copyright 1996 by Phillis-Levin

Jet Lag sucks! My body is very sensitive to weather and time changes. Every year daylight savings time kick my butt! I could never be a major jet-setter. I’d kill myself! According to my ultimate source of knowledge, the golden oracle, Wikipedia;

Jet Lag is a physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to the circadian rhythm … the condition of jet lag may last many days, and medical experts have deemed that a recovery rate of “one day per time zone” is a fair guideline.^{[citation needed]} Good sleep hygiene promotes rapid recovery from jet lag: in fact sleep, relaxation, moderate exercise, and sensible diet seem to be the simplest recovery methods.

However, since the experience of jet lag varies among individuals, it is difficult to assess the efficacy of any single remedy. Age may also be a factor on the severity of jet lag, as younger people will suffer worse jet lag than older people would^[1].

Women are more susceptible to jet lag than are men^[2] this is in part because estrogen is often vulnerable to jet lag-like conditions^[3]

Did I mention that yesterday I had to go back to school and work? I’m like a walking zombie. My mind doesn’t work, my body barely works, please don’t ask me to think — I’m in la la land. I think my body may have been possessed mid-flight. Anyone know of a jet-lag exorcist?

I’ve been with Kevin a year today. In honor of this day, I’m posting twice (can’t leave out the Indy Photo of the Week). A year ago today, I became his girlfriend.  A year later — I’m happier than I’ve ever been.  I feel so incredibly lucky.  Here’s my tribute to that;

OZ

You are my yellow my brick road,
my path to the land of fantasy and dreams.
It doesn’t take a glass of wine,
or a hundred homeless dollars
to know
that this
is priceless.

This is what
every 6 year old is saying
in the words of
“I want to be a princess.”
That means,
I want to be loved,
and cared for,
poured with special sauce.

You are what happens,
when poems go good and
words are happy.
You are the smile
in between periods.

I’ve never believed
in fairy tales or
happy endings.
Even though, I’ve wanted -
I’ve longed for.

All the thoughts
of past wants
and haunts
they led me to you
and steam-writing
“I love you,” in glass walled bliss.
Bliss –
in the way dizzy people fall.
And you,
to you,
I am dizz.
and this –
this beautiful road
of yellow Oz
is dizzy.

And I,
the dizziest one of them all,
wouldn’t trade it
trade dizziness,
any idea,
because I am light
I am heavenly
and that
is worth
falling for.

© 4/4 2008 Lisa Owens