Monday, May 11, 2015

The Encounter - A Short Short Story

The Encounter


She spoke quietly and slowly, looking directly at him.

“It’s not you.”

“It’s not yours.  It doesn't pertain to you – at all”.

Whatever it is that I’m feeling is me, mine, belonging exclusively to me.”

She took a breath and continued.   “This is how the world communicates.   The words may be directed toward you and seem to be for you – about you – and even the pronoun “you” and sometimes your name will be called out amidst it all.  But, understand, it is not about you”.

Another breath - “It is hard to understand that which is being said.” 

This is how she began the conversation with him. 

He opened his mouth to speak but she moved close to him and raised her index finger. She placed it to his lips – almost touching.  “Shh – don’t speak” she whispered.

He was startled.  He did not know her and so he took one step back in the tiny elevator.

She held his eyes with hers and placed that same index finger on her lips.

“Shh, not a word, please”.

The elevator doors opened and she turned around and stepped out.   She walked away without even a glance back.

© Glenda Kotchish
5/11/2015

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Anna on Mother's Day

Anna on Mother's Day
Anna blew in town
today
she's kind of moody
one minute all sunshiny
the next - all dark and stormy eyed
tear drops flowing
then everything's fine 
"it was nothing really"
it's  all blown over
and now  ... she's blustering about
again.
She moans
that she stuck in a rut
...our unfortunate rut it seems
She insists
it's because 
"I'm tropical".

(c) Glenda Kotchish
April 9, 2015
Ocean Isle Beach, NC



Monday, April 27, 2015

Poem - Gossip in the Cul de sac

Gossip in the Cul de sac

They spin and spin
Their little vortexes
One starts
Touches another
That one spins
Touches another
Which spins
And so it goes
Until before you know it
They are a force
Which you don’t want to be caught in
Step away
They will
one by one
Die down
Until they all
Die out.

© Glenda Kotchish
4/27/2105

Monday, March 30, 2015

Knowing - Poem

He doesn't know 
what I know

Do I know 
what he knows?

I don't know. 

(c) GMK  03/30/2015

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Again?

Again?

You're back!
another visit?
so soon?
weren't you here just last week?
someone else's anger
mean words
scathing
accusing
demanding
in writing this time.

And me - just trying
to do a good job
the right thing
on top of it
responsible.

I bit
feel into your trap
...again

Fretted all night
couldn't sleep
...again

Responding
responsible
...again

Defending what's
rightfully mine
...again

Which only
makes you
stronger
meaner
colder and hotter
...again

Until I stepped aside
to let you seethe
all alone
...again

I'm sure I'll see you
many times more
but I'm onto you
...finally
(c) GMK 3/18/2015

Monday, March 9, 2015

You asked for it.

Oh it's so cold.
It's grey
It's rainy
It's snowing
I can't wait for spring.

The complainers -
Wishing away 
this time of rest
granted to us by winter.

Stay in the house
by your fire
in your warm bed.
Sit in your chair
read your your books and
papers, 
without guilty feelings 
of outside work calling you.

But now, something's 
stirring.
They've turned the clocks forward
already.
The ground is soft from the winter  rains
Green things are showing up
Spring.

Time for you to: 
rake the leaves left from fall
put down new compost
spread your seeds for grass
that you must cut - weekly
pull the weeds from the beds
repair the fence, the timbers,
trim the shrubs
the trees
maybe power wash the sidewalk, the house
paint the shed door,
paint the porch

And spring cleaning:
the carpets
the windows
airing the rooms
painting walls?

And your car -
needs a wash
inside and out

But you love the spring
You say.
You love the outdoors
the fresh air
the sunshine
the endless chores

And what follows - 
summer's heat 
the weeds,
the grass cutting,
the endless chores
until finally you long for
winter's rest. 

(c) GMK
3/9/2015







Thursday, March 5, 2015

A Visitor

A Visitor

Here you are again.
You've been gone for a long time.
But you're back ...
for a brief but grueling visit.


You question.
You accuse.
You point.
You threaten.
You push
trying to beat me down
and making my blood boil.

I remember you now.
I know you.
Now that you've come back
Up to your old tricks.

Your arrows are 
not meant for me.
They glide by me
into thin air
finding another mark
as I ever so slightly
move out
of your path.

(c) GMK 
3/4/2015