The Mornings After
Maria Gregorio
He says you are
thorn bush, cut leaf
edges of dried perspiration,
silent wind – broken halo
hawk in filled restaurant
diving in for the kill;
He says you are
ancient whisper under the riverbed
grinning where you can’t be reached
He grips, pulls
you out of river motion
then wonders where you went
He thinks single-dimension
He thinks two-fold you like a label
He places hands over words,
reads inflection
You lower your spirit
for him to hear
He wears solemn in
shades of red
Has dried epiphanies
on his palm, imprints of
winter
You overeat
his offerings
Then move to a room
without corners,
mind at the window, waiting
He says better not to understand
everything
You say you understand;
He leaves.
He holds mint
between his fingers
and remembers you
Pours you down
the sink in pieces
Your scent divides him
Holds him still
He returns
half-way.
You stretch and crawl
your way into the open
field like a cat
and run
thorn bush, cut leaf
edges of dried perspiration,
silent wind – broken halo
hawk in filled restaurant
diving in for the kill;
He says you are
ancient whisper under the riverbed
grinning where you can’t be reached
He grips, pulls
you out of river motion
then wonders where you went
He thinks single-dimension
He thinks two-fold you like a label
He places hands over words,
reads inflection
You lower your spirit
for him to hear
He wears solemn in
shades of red
Has dried epiphanies
on his palm, imprints of
winter
You overeat
his offerings
Then move to a room
without corners,
mind at the window, waiting
He says better not to understand
everything
You say you understand;
He leaves.
He holds mint
between his fingers
and remembers you
Pours you down
the sink in pieces
Your scent divides him
Holds him still
He returns
half-way.
You stretch and crawl
your way into the open
field like a cat
and run
Listen to Maria read the poem here:
Working notes
I began these poems from a strong sense of emotion, which throughout my life, have been told directly or indirectly should be kept under control. As women, when we express our emotions passionately, society will often oppress, suppress, demonize, or chastise us for doing so. Perhaps when emotion is at its most raw, it is like an animal instinct, which is why people fear it. Creativity allows us to express our emotions non-violently, while deepening our relationships and wisdom. I believe that to be able to express emotion about ourselves and others is a feminine, earthy, and natural quality that everyone has, regardless of gender. We can choose how we express it, if we do so at all.
About the author
Maria Gregorio was born in Manila, Philippines and grew up in the U.S. Her work has been published in an anthology, Voices of Brooklyn (Face to Face Press, 2000) and on-line with New Trespass Magazine UK (2012). Maria has performed as a featured poet in numerous venues throughout New York City and London. She currently works as a social worker and lives in Queens, New York.