On the senior pages in my high school yearbook, the quote they chose to put under my picture is: “You can catch more flies with honey than you can with a fly swatter.” It was advice that my mother had always given us and I found that she was right. When kindness is shown, even to those who may not readily seem to deserve it, the reward is always with the giver. So I tried to be nice to everyone and I guess people noticed.
writing
Rescue
Birdie
The Saturday morning market attracted the usual crowd eager for organic vegetables and people watching. My shopping bag was heavy with zucchini, golden beets, white corn, a potato or two, and a paper bag of Cremini mushrooms. The farmer’s market is the best place to buy fig vinegar and some of Sister Sarah’s homemade canned tomatoes. I couldn’t take home much else. Or so I thought. Continue reading
The Legacy of the Sisters
Be that as it may
They came
With no warning
Just like the cancer
They raked
They cooked
They sat with him
In his loneliness
They laughed
At TV game shows
Puzzled through
NY Times crosswords
They worried
They fretted
They gave their time
And their love
And they brought
The small, white
Plastic trash bags
For the remains
Neatly lining
All five of the
Small, round cans
In the bedroom
They dutifully
Emptied each bag
Once a day
Of its toxic contents
Their legacy
Of love…
And then they
Said goodbye
–-Victoria Emmons, © 2011
Scream
A tiny scream
Inside my head
Awakens me
From my bed
What thought say I
To none but me
What woes are there
Or dreams to be
What lies within
My gentle skin
What thoughts persist
When light begins
And thus is born
A year of pain
Of restless nights
Am I insane
–Victoria Emmons, © 2012
One Ticket
Is enough
Two too many
To find a date
To wait and wait
For him to state
His intentions
One lonely ticket
Two far gone
To hear a sound
Of my past life
With my old man
His favorite song
One is okay
Not two or three
Or even four
Just one
One lonely life
To hear the score
Of violins and
Saxophone dreams
A piano note or two
Blend the cacophony
Of life together
With a single tune
–Victoria Emmons, © 2013
Together II
Den of friends
Din of chatter
Ding of dinner
Gather and just be
Gather together
With each other
Or alone
In the din
Of joyous noise
Happy sounds
Lonely lives
Weary and wise
–Victoria Emmons, 2013
Un poème pour Mustapha
je souris et
je rigole
ce moment
d’ecstase
qui m’attend
à cause de toi
la vie est gaie
j’ai des amis
qui sont devant
et autour de moi
j’ai des amis
qui me protègent
tous les jours
et toutes les nuits
sais pas pourquoi
suis-je belle?
peut-etre jolie?
je parle langage
trop fleuri
de mauvais temps
je les aime
ces chers amis
dans ma vie
dans le monde
de tristesse
de très loin
lumière d’Algérie
qui m’écrit
de bons mots
d’amitiés
je souris et
je rigole
car la vie est
comme tu dis
mon cher ami
–Victoire, 2014
Monday Night Promise
The doorbell never rings
As expected this Monday night
The steak is never grilled
Nor the wine poured
Baked potatoes are hot
Ready to devour with butter
And peas with lemon juice
Without the special guest
Anticipation nonetheless
Expectation and longing
Planning for days and
Preparation complete
Dress is selected
Pressed at the seams
Lipstick in place
Bouquet in a vase
The wait is endless
Count seconds on the clock
A Monday night promise
Tuesday morning tears
My Every Breath
Take it away
My every breath
Never to return
You gave me life
Deepest hope
Beautiful laughter
Those words you sent
In a tiny box
Magnified our love
We were sixteen
Or so it felt
For a while
The many years
Months, days
And hours
Became nothing
More than minutes
Counting morphine
–Victoria Emmons ©2011
LED Morning
Three blue fives
Reconcile time
For the morning
Down the stairs
Follow green glow
To the kitchen
Red embers
Lighten the room
Draw me near
In the darkness
Inspire me to
Press new words
Cats follow
Interrupt thought
Cries of need
Feed the hungry
To satisfy
And fulfill
Flash of red
Dull warning
Signals light
Renew thought
An addiction
To e-mail
–Victoria Emmons, 2009
La Vue de rue Sleidan 