Patti Masterman Poems

When you've loved someone,
As much as you're capable of,
Just let them go. Even better,
Don't write about them- ever.
...

A house breathes through its bones,
Its summits sit like sentries;
Though rafters decompose-
It never denies entry.
...

A bear came to dinner;
He ate before the bell,
He didn't use his napkin,
I am here to tell.
...

Behind the movies scenes, behind the protagonist's smiles,
Beneath the orchestra's strings, back of the ticket booths,
There is a message found in all of this;
That this is the now, and you are here alive,
...

A dream for you
And one for me;
A mermaid's blue,
A symphony,
...

Each makes for himself his own hell or heaven,
Each finds for himself his face, false or true.
For none can augur you what's odd or even;
For none can do for you what you must do.
...

I do not know how one writes poetry
or how bright stars shine only at night-
Although there are theories to be found, in certain writings
that say stars may be seen in the bottoms of the deepest wells
...

How much are words like bridges-
Or fires, to cut a swathe,
Some distances not traveled;
Last stop, where love got off.
...

I think we were never strangers-
I think we were always friends;
Standing shyly across the room
Just waiting- to begin/
...

Any time I don't understand something
Or feel unhappy with the way things are going,
Anger steps up, 'use me; let me help'
And I used to give Anger a lot of free rein,
...