One Poem by Daniel Suter

 

Narnia 

 

I'm looking for the door, my mind longing to explore. 

I'm pushing it wide open, hoping to find the beauty 

of mysteries unspoken: a story of unbroken glory, 

a true tale of ancient told with new worlds waiting to unfold 

past bushes and branches, casting first curious glances. 

Snowflakes dance the waltz by the warm light of a lamppost, 

which stands there beckoning like a tall welcoming host. 

Enchanted, I make my way through the snow-laden trees, 

then valleys, rivers and hills; my soul spills over with joy. 

when one day I wake to see, in the distance, like little toys 

the shapes of other seekers, like pilgrims heading for 

the sound of the mighty roar and though the Lion is not tame, 

we'll hide our weary hearts in the Lion's golden mane.

Daniel Suter lives and writes in Beirut, Lebanon. He teaches English through a local NGO and has been involved in starting and growing several poetry initiatives aimed at bridging sectarian divides and creating community that inspires change. He loves collecting people’s stories, reading Fantasy novels to his kids, and occasionally overdosing on Espresso. 

 

Five Poems by Karen A. VandenBos

 

Universal Mother 

 

I never understood until you opened 

your arms to cradle me and I saw the 

light held within the cracks of your 

lactating breasts, mother to all creatures 

born from wombs where rivers flow 

and roots grow deeper from the secrets 

held in a woman's heart. 

You hold space for the sun to become 

the moon and the night to become day. 

You give shelter to our anger when it 

comes to feast and sanctuary when 

grief takes us to our knees. 

No matter our weakness you give us 

space to bleed and live our messy lives 

and embrace us as the babes we are. 

 

 

(After the painting The Love Embrace of the  

Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego 

and Senor Xoltl by Frida Kahlo 1949.) 

 

 

 

 

 

Weathering the Storm 

 

Off the coast of Maine where the wild 

wind whips across the sound, it sends  

the seagulls spinning sideways and  

mariners dancing with death. 

 

Taking off my yellow raincoat I let go of 

my fear and push forward into the frenzy  

forgetting how fierce and frightening these  

tempests of summer can be. 

 

Looking at the lighthouse beacon that now 

lists aimlessly at the top of a steep rock, I  

slip into the deep cold waters where the sea 

will teach me how to weather the storm. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cage 

 

It is the hour when the sky is filled 

with stars and dreams creep through 

the open window.  It is beyond the 

thinning veil where I am transported 

back in time across the ocean to a 

land where cedar flutes emit notes of 

sweet release and peace reigns over 

the earth.  Here women are leaders  

of the clans, their voices strong and 

guiding, their hearts kind.  They hold 

the history of all women and vow not 

to let another fall and will fight to 

keep themselves free. Continuing to 

travel through time my dreams show 

me what the future may hold.  I see 

the cage coming for women on wings 

of darkness as it did before matriarchs 

ruled and brought unity.  I know by 

the blood of my ancestors that I must 

prepare to use my voice and all other 

means I can if I am to survive this 

evil that threatens us with shackles 

and will strip us of our rights.  In my 

dreams it has been shown to me that 

women are living in the most dangerous 

of times. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Blue I Cannot Name 

 

The sky is a blue I cannot name. 

Clouds chase each other through 

the branches, the lively chatter of 

red squirrels and screeches of blue 

jays give adjectives to the day.  As  

the trees drop their leaves like articles 

of clothing across the floor, I turn 

away from the beckoning and let 

the unknown have me. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Callieach 

 

her hair a burning bush of  

darkness and light  

eyebrows the feathers of a crow 

eyes dark storms and oceans 

ears a chamber of echoes 

lips pinched with secrets 

teeth a ladder of pearls 

breasts an endangered species 

her belly a cauldron of the moon 

arms of swords 

fingers of candles and glass 

legs of anchors 

feet that move quiet as a cat 

waist a spider's hourglass 

her mind a ball of yarn unravelling 

into chains of lightning 

voice of thunder and the skin 

of a dragon 

breath the season of fire 

her legend a galaxy of stars 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen A VandenBos was born on a warm July morn in Kalamazoo, MI. She has a PhD in Holistic Health where a course in shamanism taught her to travel between two worlds  She can be found unleashing her imagination in two online writing groups. A Best of the Net nominee, her writing has been published in Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Blue Heron Review, The Rye Whiskey Review, One Art: a journal of poetry, Anti-Heroin Chic, The Ekphrastic Review, Southern Arizona Press, MacQueen's Quinterly, Moss Piglet, Panoply, Peninsula Poets and others.