Divorce Court on Midsummer's Eve
this was the day we were to wed
with nymph and fairy folk in hand
instead we finalize our divorce
among the marble steel and stone
heavy air of God all around i hear the black hound
i see your ghost across the mahogany pews
hard face that cracks skin breaking news
i have a longing for the man i used to know
but he is not here in silence after death throes
i wonder where he is or if he ever existed
englishman you write and recite your play
act I you are romeo and i juliette
act II you are prospero and i miranda
act III you are lady macbeth with bloody hands and deep regrets
and i the ghost of blues and wild cat whiskey past
i am the American blond
i sing my southern song with no regrets
i would walk through a ring of fire once again
fearless for love even if the outcome were the same
for there is no love or life without death pain
no healing balm for the sacred heart
only to bleed deeper out the toxic flame
i don't miss the angry man or woman that you became
i can't miss the troubled soul who walks the floors all through the night
why are we here it must have been a lie
but i know it's fear
fear of life
fear of money
fear of oblivion
fear of demons in the darkest night
and the pasty white man in black suit
with black book and black boot
a vampire who has feasted on our family
he is your master and with him you have been forever divorcing me
your fetus mother sister daughter and redheaded whore
englishman i am sorry my culture does not allow me to understand
the disconnect to woman hearth and home
but i promise this will be the last on midsummer's eve
i walk four points around the room and cast a spell of fortitude
i will not be broken and stand strong alone
when the day is done i hear a whippoorwill
and share a glass of strawberry wine
with Puck and celebrate summer time
i will not be thinking of you of course
only this poem to mark our last divorce
Persephone and i will watch the sun rise
She got her green card and praise the lord i saw the light
- to my lover and hater
c. paulette powell, 2007
_______________________________________________________________
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this was the day we were to wed
with nymph and fairy folk in hand
instead we finalize our divorce
among the marble steel and stone
heavy air of God all around i hear the black hound
i see your ghost across the mahogany pews
hard face that cracks skin breaking news
i have a longing for the man i used to know
but he is not here in silence after death throes
i wonder where he is or if he ever existed
englishman you write and recite your play
act I you are romeo and i juliette
act II you are prospero and i miranda
act III you are lady macbeth with bloody hands and deep regrets
and i the ghost of blues and wild cat whiskey past
i am the American blond
i sing my southern song with no regrets
i would walk through a ring of fire once again
fearless for love even if the outcome were the same
for there is no love or life without death pain
no healing balm for the sacred heart
only to bleed deeper out the toxic flame
i don't miss the angry man or woman that you became
i can't miss the troubled soul who walks the floors all through the night
why are we here it must have been a lie
but i know it's fear
fear of life
fear of money
fear of oblivion
fear of demons in the darkest night
and the pasty white man in black suit
with black book and black boot
a vampire who has feasted on our family
he is your master and with him you have been forever divorcing me
your fetus mother sister daughter and redheaded whore
englishman i am sorry my culture does not allow me to understand
the disconnect to woman hearth and home
but i promise this will be the last on midsummer's eve
i walk four points around the room and cast a spell of fortitude
i will not be broken and stand strong alone
when the day is done i hear a whippoorwill
and share a glass of strawberry wine
with Puck and celebrate summer time
i will not be thinking of you of course
only this poem to mark our last divorce
Persephone and i will watch the sun rise
She got her green card and praise the lord i saw the light
- to my lover and hater
c. paulette powell, 2007
_______________________________________________________________
Return to Works of Paulette Powell Contents
Return to Main Site Directory