Oasis

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Vandal Poem of the Day: May 1, 2017

by Matthew Shenoda

it is not enough to lament

to acquiesce to the bordered divisions of country

only once in a person’s life

can the sun become perfectly whole

imbedded at the nape

reminiscent of home

all other moments

are those of simple humanity

cacophonous tapestries

of sun & cloud, sea & river

for a wanderer to savor

for an artist to breathe

here in this scorching sun

a signal towards life

beyond a road sign

or a finely finished chair

beyond the temple of a windstorm

inside the gliding stone of remembrance

beyond a box of ivory or wood

despite cowry adornment

a lover stands bare in this desert

facing her lover

offering only the sweat

from the small of her back

from Seasons of Lotus, Seasons of BoneFind it in the library

Published in Matthew Shenoda Poems

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a State-based program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this (publication, website, exhibit, etc.) do not necessarily represent those of the Idaho Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.