Author: poetryfest

Narration by Val Cole

READING A MAP, by Joanne Leva

Fall River. Smith Mills. New Bedford. Freetown.
A slow drive into charcoal blue. Silver
Beach. Ethereal Grey Gables. Frozen
Creek. Flying Horses Carousel. The wind

was whipping along the coast and you were
West Chop bent at the hip. Your arms cradled
dozens of Conque shells. And I was East Chop.
My arms full of shells, too. We were a mile

apart but still so connected. Looking
back, I think that sea air whipping and shells
falling from our arms were a kind of map.
A way of wandering we understood.

Heaven Heights. Pie-in-the-Sky Bakery

Narration by Val Cole

FLIGHT OF THE HEART, by Murray Blanchard

A gust of wind sets a lofty leaf,
black foreboding sky lends me to
grief.
Rivers collide, forceful oceans
swell, my thirsting lips, his to
quell.
Weary watered eyes break the spirit
free, reborn soul within allows me
to see.
Raindrops phrase my flight so
sweet, young words in my heart,
rhyme in beat.
As on a ledge, I yearn to fly, to
the dawn’s fresh dew, where he does
lie.
As I lay my head upon his chest, my
tiresome path, does come to rest.

Roller coasters on merry farms,
with southland Chingona.
Take me back home again,
In the season of America.

Sexed like wildfire and starlight.
Her moonlight radiates desire.
Love is the only keeper,
and I’m getting higher.

Vexed runes of darkness,
black magic and voodoo
Like Romeo and Juliet
Capulet and Montague.

Hexed by Santeria,
The roots of her witchcraft.
I prance with white magic,
Jesus guides my glance.

Shadows dance at midnight
Under this Chicana spell
A black cat crosses my path.
An omen from heaven or hell.

Every alley and byway,
chance leaves its wrath.
All fire lit and lit,
On shattered glass I took a bath.

Of stilettos and of sangrias,
On this night of trance.
Of Chonies and of bloody maria’s,
Never severs, true romance.
A cosmic soul-tie, Everlast.