A Reminder

A Reminder

By Carolyn Howard Johnson © 2001

Was it Poe’s poisoned pen
poised at this guillotine bird
that causes me to cower
at its shrapnel voice
strafing early air,
cool pockets
into mental blisters?

That I see a raven trollop
preening and picking
through valued dead.

That I recoil from his residue,

flinch at the gory gurgle
rising from frayed tonsils?

His wings thrust wide,
coal bright and purple
like Maleficent’s cape
scissored flight
pinked shears

shadow my shoulder.

See his silken sheen, he says.
Each crazed curse
reminds me,
reminds me,
to discover his disguise
so I can find my own poem
in his pierced and active eyes.

Carolyn Howard Johnson's first novel This is the Place was just released
by AmErica House. It is a story about a young journalist
who delves into her family history and learns from four hardy
Mormon women what she must do to lead her own life

You can order the award winning This is the Place from amazon

And Barnes & Noble