Ghost-Dreaming

From crystallized shadows they
rose from the mirror you
broke with a bitter lie-
and then another.

I watched them rising
from the mirror ashes and crumbs
at your feet.

The deep spaces between you
and yourselves-
brought them dancing between
you and I.

I sunk shallow with the crumbs-
ornaments to feed on
becoming a tiny girl through the
spaces at your feet
they could not find me
from the lies you told them.

Julie Simmons
15 November, 2001

 

 

I AWOKE FROM THE CAVERNS

I WAS TRAVELING TO THE ORACLE
THEY SAID
I FOUND THE HEAD OF ORPHEUS
BLEEDING FROM THE EYES
HE WHISPERED I WAS AN ARC
IN A VICIOUS
CRASHING WAVE OF DELUSION AGAINST
MY OWN WISHES

I RAN FROM HIM SCREAMING
BLEEDING FROM THE EYES
IT WAS A NIGHT OF
NO MOON
THE NEW MOON RISING
BLACKENED LIKE THE BLOOD DRIED ON THE SIDE OF HIS EYES

I AWOKE AND MY ARMS WERE COVERED
IN SCRATCHES FROM THE CAVERNS IN THE NIGHT OF NO MOON
THE NEW MOON SILENT- RED
AND BLACK

I RAN TO THE CHAMBER OF MY LOVER
HE SLEPT RISING AND FALLING WITH THE HOUR
AND COVERED, IMMERSED IN PERSPIRATION
I LIFTED MYSELF ONTO HIS BEDSIDE
RISING AND FALLING WITH HIM
HE AWOKE BREATHLESS AS THOUGH HE'D RUN
FROM THE CAVERNS DARKENED BY BLOOD FROM THE SHARP EDGES
BLACKENED BY THE NIGHT OF NO MOON

HE DREW ME DEEP INSIDE
AND BLED FROM HIS EYES LIKE ORPHEUS INTO THE MOON
INTO THE DARKNESS LIKE A CREATURE
OF THE CAVERNS

JULIE SIMMONS APRIL 6, 2001

 

 

(untitled)

In the shallow whispers,
beneath the hollow streets-
there is the subtle fragrant glimpse
of another secret world.

One silent amidst the howls of despair
and agony.
Silent, but echoes deep and lovely to the
tongue, unable to respond.

A world aware, wide-eyed and fearless to the night-
subtle and empowered by silence.
Beautiful in shadows and becoming the echoes feared
by those who shadow themselves in darkness.

We live in the dark and love in the light of the echoes.

Julie Simmons
16 November, 2001

 

 

NAKED WITH A MANTIS ON MY TAIL

Showered by stars
blue petals and ashes.
Sunken between a lover and a friend to be-
beside myself
and yet, he moves past me
more quickly than the smoke trails
scarring the air and bushing my legs.
The winter wind kisses my skin
with fireflies and a mantis on my tail.

He keeps resurfacing to show me a thing or two.
-Finds me always dancing
in a serpentine gown
stained with ichor and messages
from the Gods trying to reach me-
beside myself,
with a mantis on my tail
sucking the blood from my scars and
my tears,
ink-stained, liquid ashes
and a burial he's dug
for my gown.

I'll remain naked
beside myself
and one day he'll find me
dancing,, showered by stars and blue petals
in his garden with a mantis on my tail
holding his secrets
for the friend he's left behind.

Julie Simmons
16 November, 2001