Modern Love Lxxxvii (Minds Like Compost) Poem by Liberatore Suffoletta

Life comes shimmering over
waves at night, it stays
frightened outside the
harbor as sunrise
goes to meet it
at first light

Ah! still alive
on a late-October morn
finding a woman
barefoot, pajamas rolled up,
with her frost smile on
southern Connecticut’s,
salt marsh coast.

Rustle and embrace cooling sound waters
waves turn underfoot, small and hard as life
cold nose dripping
singing inside
harbor music, soul music,
smell of sun on your face.
All these modern women
turn them over, turn them over
wait and watch their smile
from their bottoms up
Sit down contemplate.
Watch them sprout.
minds like compost

Out there walking round, looking out for food,
birdcalls, seeds that crack
planting, digging, watering, pruning,
chase a hungry dream.
chew bones, follow sheep,
hunger stays home.
Out there somewhere
diners for old fools,
dust from old homes,
old juke box songs.
about:
What we became —
who ate what— how we persevered?