Linda R.

Item

Linda (1).jpg

Title

Linda R.

Description

Navigating the Awoken
 
I am not anesthetized to all 
     lived that is behind me 
Risen like fumes to the
     ventilation.
Letting go
And exhale in revelation 
    and inquisition
Burying the dead,
Becoming the ancestors 
    looked back to. 
And the life 
Roused by sleep beckoning 
      attention and allure 
Naviating the awoken. 
Neither crossing to the 
     other side 
But for the moment 
Suspended.
Roots to one another
Embedded deep into 
     rich earth
And living flesh, 
Wisp of wind 
Blown to the heavens 
     and back. 
With each mortal passing 
Grief becoming worn 
     with age
Around smile.
Empathy encircling the eyes
Seen so much 
    sorting itself out. 
The gray matter sifted. 
Made more white.
Lives now widening,
Shadowing wisdom,
Marking time caught in a
    moment.

Impossible to get back to.
Older, resilient. 
The elephant's mind
Keeper of old, past story.
Of thin tissue paper ten cent 
    kites 
With ripped sheet tails 
Knotted to long lines 
Strung to the blue skies.
My warm thought kisses 
Against words gone astray 
Mending in sentence. 
Last glance over ones
    shoulder 
In passing 
To make sure, 
Promising never to forget. 
Memories create. 
Set their places. 
Forks in the Road, 
     A Memoir,
Written
Never to assume what I sent. 
I am not anesthetized to all 
    lived behind us. 
Evolved and gone extinct. 
Still the kite flying. 
Words on the page
Written. 
Mending.
The wind passing 
Tethering 
Risen fumes to the
   ventilation
On the exhale 
Letting go
Excavating where I lay.
Marking impression. 
Navigating the awoken.

Collection

Portraits

Citation

Written by Linda R., “Linda R.,” Voices on the Inside: A Poetic Justice Self-Portrait Poetry and Photography Exhibit, accessed September 29, 2026, https://library.csusm.edu/context-library-series/voicesontheinside/document/354.