AT THE CORE - by Mara Lemanis
At the Core
by Mara Lemanis
Between the end
and the beginning
hours days years
things remembered
things forgotten
the pulp in
growth rings
coiled
adamant
inside the timber
whorled in
hours days years
We still the churning hour
and cut across the rings
plumbing the spiral
of our days
hunting for the sap
inside the bark
from many rings ago
to find the bud
we grafted
laughing at necessity
it begged to open
as we sealed
its breath
The wood is dry
safely planed
finished flat
a polished disk
pulp gone stale
things remembered
things forgotten
We touch the surface
sore ashamed
biting hard
through
to the core
laughing
we seal
the dying buds
sealing
our breath.
Mara Lemanis
Biography: Mara Lemanis is a literary scholar. Her essays have been selected for 20th CENTURY LITERARY CRITICISM and are included in undergraduate student textbooks in the U.S.
She has worked as an archivist for Historical Preservation and with the IRC, assisting refugees in Oakland, California.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed within this guest article are those of the author Mara Lemanis alone and do not represent those of the Marbella Marbella website. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to Mara Lemanis and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with the author.
