Unweaving

pulling out the stitchwork, untying the
knots that moored the story in
place, this precious tapestry of words
and work and tears and too
much entirely. the diamond-panes
wink, wink, in the sun, glinting
signals a brittle code to say yes,
you, and again, not you
threads unwoven, helped with the
snip of a scissors, falling to the floor, a
curly mass of color, incoherent
rainbow, code for what was
snippets--abbreviations--punctuations--punches
to the pit of your gut
unworking the words of smooth silk, the
buttery floss twinkling through the fingers
as the shuttle flashes and
one more line completed, and then
another until the story is told, untold,
mouthed over, a handful of remnants in
your palm, greased over with time and the dust of days innumerable

MaryAnn McCarra is a resident of Mount Vernon and her other works can be read at:
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mychildalways.blogspot.com
www.ustream.tv/MaryAnnMcCarra
twitter.com/MaryAnnMcCarra
www.youtube.com/maryann1067

Poetry podcasts hosted by Podbean.com:
maryannmccarrafitzpatrick.podbean.com
mccarra--poetry.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/MaryAnnMcCarraFitzpatrick/

Shannon Tavarez’s battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia [AML] started only months after her Broadway debut in the Lion King as Nala. With her bright smile, beautiful soprano voice and small frame, she made a huge impact on the audience and despite her busy academic schedule, she displayed a professional maturity. She spoke openly about her disease on her website and gave hope to the entire world as she went through her struggle.

A New Role Now

Shhh! Shhh!
She has the brightest smile and a twinkle
in her eyes,
Coming here as an angel that’s gonna tell
us something new!!!
Not about her suffering; not about her fight;
But about Nala in the Lion King; and
Broadway shining bright!!!
Shhh! Shhh!
She doesn’t know yet that she’s gonna be
the STAR here too.
Gift she is; Brave Heart we will call her.
Little Shannon; courageous and bold in
the face of pain and adversity;
Preparing her for a much bigger role on
an eternal stage.
Wow! Shannon…Go Shannon!!!
You stood your ground in a confrontation
with death and
Shannon took that final breath and won,
When she used it to start her new life;
Forgetting the struggle and strife.
Heavenly, precious, sweet child of God;
Have you ever seen anyone fit her robe of
royalty so well?
As though she already knew her role here
in heaven?
The pearly gates of heaven open
And the cherubs welcome her like playmates.
My, my!
Look at Shannon now; smiling radiantly.
This is her opening night.
Already she’s getting cheers; wise, old
river running...just run.
Shhh! Shhh!
The curtains will open now as Shannon
talks about the circle of life.

By Jennifer P. Lumley ©

Jennifer P. Lumley, a Jamaican native and long time Mt Vernon resident, is an internationally celebrated Author/Poet, Public Speaker, and Freelance Writer. A former Financial Specialist in Corporate America, with a love for poetry and short stories, she published her first work, ‘MIND SHAPER’, in 2009 and her second, ‘STILL LIFE’, in 2010.

For more information, visit her website at www.Jenuinpoetry.com or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone at (914) 663-5161.

Amongst the Dwellers

I walk among so many people
But they can’t see my pain.
My heart is filled with so much grief,
I fear the probability of becoming insane.

My mask, it covers all my tears
So they can’t see inside.
The smile I wear is not real
My feelings, I simply must hide.

I walk aimlessly through the motion
Of what appears to be my life.
Always wondering about the purpose
Since things apparently aren’t right.

But as I look around myself
I can’t deny what it is I see.
The people that I dwell amongst,
Are mere mirror reflections of ME!

© C.Wood 2010

Mount Vernon’s Christopher L. Haywood, aspiring poet and photographer.

Eyes and ears open for, “One Man’s Journey: Love, Pain, and Reconciliation”.

Contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for appearance information.