Today I am delighted to have Liz Casey return once more to my blog and give us a nice present in the form of a wonderful poem.
Liz is a super talented poet and I admire her very much. Please give her another warm welcome and enjoy!
Liz about Liz:
I’ve been a widely published poet and freelance writer and editor and have appeared in lots of mags and rags across the US. My book-length poetry chapbook, Breaking the Sacred was published in ‘98 by a small press, Angelflesh Press, in Grand Rapids Mich. I currently work full-time as a Sr. Technical Writer, and I run a Motorcycle Touring Company for women, Biker Babe Tours, in Sedona, AZ. I also blog about body issues, size acceptance, self-esteem, and body love at BigBodyBeautiful.
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We Move Through the Darkness
Smooth insects held on the surface by some invisible,
meander like amoebae in solution, bumping and turning;
some piloting the boats of their bodies away to dense
pockets of muck, reeds, and stench. Others gliding
toward smaller islands of mud-clotted cattails that
wave their plump, sausage bodies in the shallows.
We move through the darkness of ourselves
in the darkness,
opening unsettled places that vibrate and hurt,
listening to the birds chuckle softly to one another
through the open door, aching at their intimacy, their
private language, wondering how they so easily slide
themselves open, giving themselves to the other world
beneath the surface of the slick canopy, while we sit
talking and closing parts of ourselves off.
The Last Chapter 
Jackie-babe, THANK YOU so much, again, for letting me play in your yard and contribute. I love your blog so much and having such a blast with you and our friends. Hugs to you, sweetie!
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Well thank you so much Liz for helping me out this month! You are the hero not me! Big hugs right back at ya!
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What an amazing poem! I could easily visualize the words like the birds and the insects. For some reason, deep in the jungle where only a few rays of sunlight are seeping through the leaves.
Happy International Label Day! So glad you stopped by my site earlier, Jackie! Xx
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Thank you so much for stopping by! Always good to see new faces.
Yes the poem is very visual is it not? Liz does great poetry!
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TJ, Thank you so much for stopping by and reading ma poem, friend! I’m so glad you got such great visuals with it. I love when that happens to me, too. Thanks for making my day with your kind comments. 🙂
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Hmm… I don’t often go for contemporary poetry but this was a really enjoyable read. This line in particular stuck a barb in me: “We move through the darkness of ourselves
in the darkness,
opening unsettled places that vibrate and hurt,”
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I don’t often go for poetry much at all. But Liz knows how to do poetry right. Thanks Aussa!
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Jackie, I got a million of ’em. LOL! Seriously. I could bury you in poetry. But, thank you so much for your tireless promotion of other writers, for your quality, thought-provoking work here on this blog, and for being such a literary champion. You are the wind beneath lots of people’s wings, honey. My deepest respect and love to you! Your friend, Lizzy
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Aussa, Thank you so much for giving contemporary poetry a chance and taking this poem in; it means so much to me when I birth a piece that speaks to others’ souls. You have gifted me with your comments. Thank you, sis.
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My favorite lines:
We move through the darkness of ourselves
in the darkness,
opening unsettled places that vibrate and hurt,
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Frances-baby! Awwww…thank you, doll. Makes me all warm and gooey with love that you liked this poem. I cannot wait to visit you in NJ, mama. Look out, east coast! Lizzy is comin’. Brace yourselves!! First stop: Carlos Bakery where I will buy an entire cake and eat it like a dog in the street while you photograph me. Buwwhahahahaha!
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Charging the camera!
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hahahahaha! 🙂
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What a great poem! Thanks Jackie for introducing BigLizzy to us!
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You are so welcome tiny!
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Tiny! Thank you so much for the kudos and glad you liked the poem, honey. I’m heading over to your blog in just a sec. 🙂
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I loved it, Lizzy!
That was simply beautifully, finely crafted, and my favorite lines were:
“wondering how they so easily slide
themselves open, giving themselves to the other world
beneath the surface of the slick canopy, while we sit
talking and closing parts of ourselves off.”
Can you hear the sounds of my fingers poppin’ in Poetry Praise?
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Claudia-sissy! THANK you so much for stopping by and taking this poem into your fine heart and being, my friend. Poetry was my first love. This coming from you, my poet-Goddess and light-worker is high praise indeed. XOXO
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Happy Monday Morning, Liz,
You are most welcome and most deserving of high praise!! Your work is truly extraordinary, and I can definitely see that poetry was your first love!
Kudos always…
XOXO
HAPPY TURKEY WEEK
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Lizzy! I don’t know why I have struggled with poetry my whole life. But upon the second read of your poem, it really hit home. Wow! Great images swarmed my brain, buzzing around. I must read more of your poetry.
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