Friday, September 1, 2017

The man from Apolo 15


In 1985, as he publishes
Entering Space: An Astronaut’s Odyssey
I entered kindergarten on my literary voyage
In another world, Votuporanga
He is Allen IV,
I, just the middle child

He entered as salt and pepper sprinkles
on our Friday lunch
At the heat of our discussion
about the ugly faucets
our darling husbands
decided to choose
with the plumber’s guidance...

Here, back on Earth,
As he entered retirement in 2004
from his exits to the moon
I was leaving my Earth
(besides being called a loon)

As life’s shuttle orbited
Around years in and out
As I entered the galaxy of marriage
the constellation of motherhood
the nebula of my accomplishments
our paths cross:

He enters the room
with a gaze of one
who’s seen the moon
With a cane, and a NASA pin
on the navy blue lapel

Still in pilot mode
strategic stops
and plenty nerdy jokes

I tell him skeptical
Are you sure you are an astronaut?
You should have been a comedian

He smiles and tell
yet another one about the burned church.
Holly smokes, I just met Joseph P. Allen IV! 



Washington, DC, Salt and Pepper Restaurant, lunch time with Etna Cantora and Andrea



Monday, August 28, 2017

My visit to you


Hi dear friend
darling of mine
sister of my heart

I visit you in thoughts
in prayers
in tears
but overall, thinking of you
I visit you in smiles

I come alone,
but in my soul
this building of past
present, tomorrow
this castle of sand
of diamonds
guarded by courage,
threatened by fears
I bring the world, the ones far and near

I come to see you
sweet window
to be surrounded by your caring light
to hear the wisdom of your music

I bring you flowers
petals of poetry
from life’s garden
fresh, organic
raw blades of green hope

I bring you a chair
not to seat, but to dance around

Put your dancing shoes,
Dance Aviva,
I came to visit, because when I do
who visits me is you!


To my friend Zahara Heckscher