"An Ending Begins"

David Chapman-artist

 Standing on the edge looking back—

            So many decisions gone wrong

                        So many decisions proved right

                                    No way of tracing patterns

            The child longs for easier ways—

                        Rainbows, buttercups under the chin

                                    Seeking security

                                                Returning to the womb

Standing on the edge looking ahead—

            So many unknowns

                        So many possibilities

                                    No way of seeing patterns

            The youth longs for challenge—

                        First love, free falling from the sky

                                    Embracing life

                                                Escaping tight bondage

Standing on the edge looking inward—

            So many “what ifs”

                        So many “if onlys”

                                    No way of changing patterns

            The elder dreams on of new beginnings

                        Second chances, another step into sunshine

                                    Gathering warmth

                                                Longing to be young again

Copyright 1996 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

"Summer Begins"

 

Summer begins  

shedding stress by    

lusting for Father Ralph  

I become Meggie   

slipping into heartbreak  

reliving my own devotion  

veiling my Catholic guilt under Italian lace 

missal clutched in small, white-gloved hand   

crystal Rosary, blessed by Pius XII,  

soothing my restless fingers  

his Irish brogue a supple song   

his blue eyes like laughter

he kneels before me, eye-to-eye   

proposes a date  

he’ll be my father—  

a surrogate breaking bread 

erasing my disappointment 

drying my tears with his finger tips  

tugging my hand to the crook of his arm 

his brilliance dazzles me

my heart worships him 

Copyright 2011 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

 

"An Ending Begins"

Standing on the edge looking back—

            So many decisions gone wrong

                        So many decisions proved right

                                    No way of tracing patterns

            The child longs for easier ways—

                        Rainbows, buttercups under the chin

                                    Seeking security

                                                Returning to the womb

Standing on the edge looking ahead—

            So many unknowns

                        So many possibilities

                                    No way of seeing patterns

            The youth longs for challenge—

                        First love, free falling from the sky

                                    Embracing life

                                                Escaping tight bondage

Standing on the edge looking inward—

            So many “what ifs”

                        So many “if onlys”

                                    No way of changing patterns

            The elder dreams on of new beginnings

                        Second chances, another step into sunshine

                                    Gathering warmth

                                                Longing to be young again

Copyright 1996 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman