silent E
I make ‘em say their names
draw the sound out long
quiet but fierce
fir gets set ablaze
cap transforms into hero-wear
not carries a message
a hug grows large
scars terrify
a pin towers
I blow ‘em up big
make ‘em sound hard
shove little flat hats
down tight on their heads
don’t let ‘em forget
who they are
not-so-distant sea
the unmistakable blue band
of watery bowl beyond
the this-and-that of land
is even better when
dashed here-and-there
with white hyphens
of bubbling surf
Words You Won’t Need on Your Tropical Holiday
when the air sweeps
a swell of eucalyptus scent
inside your valise
here are some bon mots
you can leave behind:
crisp
brisk
sleet
snow
blustery
chilled
cozy
frost
blizzard
ice (well, you may want to save this one for cocktails…)
rime
biting
freezing
frozen
drift
icicle
snowman
raw
frigid
hail
cool
sled
sleigh
scarf
mitten
muffler
jumper
overcoat
hot cocoa
hot toddy
fire
snug
trust me –
you’ll have no need to utter
any icy sounds
