Hagar Shipley Poem by Kevin Patrick

Memories come
to harvest her days
Down through fallows
that somberly graze
The splendor tip tops
of the boondocks of youth
Etched in the silhouettes
of ghost with no truce
She stands always fighting
the odds of the house
Knowing home is never sweet
to the aged carcass
But a prison in waiting
to the dominoes of nature
Which she rebelled on the day
she was properly nurtured


In those ninety years dwelt,
she's no wise to sages
Indomitable spirit -
that broke the latch of patience
Kissing scoundrels in cars,
trading riches for new rags
Looking for someone to love
she can tear apart and slag
Then willow in the sands,
in the relics of beach combs
Telling tales to passing strangers
just to prove she's not alone
While reliving the life she made sure would never last
And failing to regret the prides of needles chance



In hospitals warmth,
machines count the beats
The palpitations linger
as fresh air retreats
Noble daughter, honest wife, cherished mother -sacrifice
Collapse to the truth invented by your dice
You seek atonement,
from the son you menace
But it's too late now;
he's impeached your credit
Stair now into the recess of the last page of the album
For now, it's too late, to make the earth your eden