In the night,
something furtive and secret
something that could have been
but the day
went by too soon
the cracks between
between the suspension
of dreams
the side
of the house
reflected
the orange blossoms
curl and wait
to unfurl again
the thick bread and butter
on the stove
brings excitement
cinnamon and raisins
lighting up the night
togetherness,
safety
somewhere in the circle
of the velvet quiet
where we're heading,
there's just
no knowing
~Sarah Mahina Calvello
It's a beach day
with seagulls
shashaying toward
waters golden
Clouds are lucid
clotted cream
in the
morning dew
and I
don't quite know
how to feel
Yearning
a stranger
thought familiar
turned out
to be
just a cloud
chiming laughter
burns the past
Lingering longer
with weeping sunsets
if you had seen it,
you would understand
like aging,
seems to stay too long
the water
plays well
discovering secrets
with the growing shadows
time seems
too close for comfort
breath circles
light and breaks
like a beach shell
to ignite
a new dream
Sarah Mahina Calvello
The daffodils
Through the cracks
looking at lightening
where the light bends
birds lingering
in the lightest blue sky
stark against
the dark trees
early morning air
smells like
freshly bottled water
crisp dream
seems like
a magic time
between time
and I am suspended
the quiet corners
where hope
hides
by Sarah Mahina Calvello
Peonies
A hot cup of tea
A warm hug
Like the sweetest
Of ribbons
That’s for me
The key
To happiness
Is a breath
Of fresh air
Alone
Rain clatters
On the backyard window
Like soft glass
There are
No highs
Without lows
Isn’t that a gas?
Quiet willows
Brush the cold glass
Like hushed laughter
Across honey fragile
Marmalade skies
Twilight starts
A prelude
To the moon’s comfort
You miss the light
In hindsight
My secrets
Come out
Like water
Like the finest wine
It was
An autumn moon
The truest blue
Makes me
Miss you
Sarah Mahina Calvello
It was
An Autumn moon
The truest blue
Makes me
Miss you
Peonies
A hot cup of tea
A warm hug
Like the sweetest
Of ribbons
That’s for me
The key
To happiness
Is a breath
Of air
Alone
Twilight starts
A prelude
To the moon’s comfort
You miss the light
In hindsight
My secrets
Come out
Like water
Like the finest wine
Rain clatters
On the backyard window
Like soft glass
There are
No highs
Without lows
Isn’t that
A gas?
Quiet willows
Brush the
Cold glass
Like hushed laughter
Across honey,
Marmalade skies
Outside, the sky is dappled
The clouds are dark and swirl
Like a river rock
Like a secret
Trying to forgive
And forget
Closer to the sun
Ever-reaching out
To empty space
Curved pieces of ice hang
Changing in the midmorning sky
It just goes
On and on
A startling dream
Between green pines
Almost black
Leaning against
The pale sky
The smell of fresh moving water
Soundless glass
Slowly accepting
Things I can’t change
A place
Where time
Can wash
It all away
Twists and turns
Were supposed
To go through
Little wonders
Of moments
That hang
In the air
There’s always
Love to repair
Trying to see
What lies beyond
The busy streets
of life
i heard birds outside
The sweet kind
I’ve never heard them so clear
Airy and bouncing
Back and forth
Echoing
against echo
I kept looking for
A sign of you
In the sunlit clouds
In the jade leaves
Of the morning
But it was meant
To be kept a secret
Hidden chimes
To break through
The faltering gray
Approach, honey sound
You are
My silver lining
To lighten
These dreary days
Restless days,
But with
A strange radiance
About this
Mismatched chaos
A sparkle
Can only sparkle so much
Before it burns out
I’m just trying
To hold onto
Whatever sparkle
I can keep for my own
A slow burn
Sheltered from
This storm
rain falls
an echo
of an echo
a midnight laugh\
a light touch
to haunt
the memory
the road
is long
there are no highs
without the lows
I'll take
what I
can get
under the
floating honey sky
closing my eyes
to feel the moment
ir's just another
mad day
and a face
you thought
you knew
tonight
fells good
on my skin
rose wine
wrapping it
in a bag
for later
celebration for onto savor
and smile at
I still
have my dreams
to hold onto
near sleepy flowers
crisp and white\
shivering and nodding
on the edge
of something
the kind
of love
that leaves a mark
making the whole
world sway
Sarah Mahina Calvello
walking down
low lit
corners of hallways
transparency without consistency
isn't easy
to maintain
as the days fade
the leaves fall
history falters
with the wind
all you can do
is hang onto
the truth
while daylight waits
all that radiance
is worth waiting for
even though
change makes
you restless
you must
pace yourself
sparkle can
only sparkle
so much
before it burns out
pointing you
home ward again
Sarah Mahina Calvello
Photographs lay scattered
On my bedspread
Reminiscing to escape
Like beautifully colored
Mismatched shoes
A Spring breeze
A glass of iced tea
Wondering’ where
The days
Went off to
Purple pale violets
Blow sugar and free
Turning me calm
Life’s a peach
Just a little sour
But it's needed
To be let in
My barefoot feet
On wispy grass
That smells like
The renewal
I crave
Still wiping
The sleep from my eyes
Trying to find
My place
With the
Rising sun
Weary
Of constant consistency
Of the days blending
Monet water lilies
Soft water
And turquoise waves
Sighs and carries
Me away
Feeling myself
Surrendering to the present
Afterimage
Of a dream
Secrets
Are always alive
Getting bigger
With the waves
You always said
Spring by the sea
Was your favorite
Happy to be alone
Right now
Learning to
Love the parts of myself
No one clapped for
Strawberry muffins
Sugar and tart
Fresh on my tongue
Embracing the quiet moments
In the lush, changing light
I love it when
The fog rolls in
A gray landscape
Nothing moved
In all that gray
Except for the small birds
Calling out
To the reaching shadows
To the daylight shimmer
You are my
Sliver of light
My provocative thought
I could do
With a little craziness
In my life
The low bushes
Of peonies
Soft and heady,
Pillow and pink
Resting in the
Blue shadows
Of the windless air
If they see
The new me
They won’t see
The real me
Nothing is meant
To make perfect sense
Got to bend
With the wind
Roll with
The punches
Existing with
Monotonous un-belonging
I’ve come to find
That change is nature’s delight
I stand before you delighted
Holding onto
My sliver
Of light
outside my window
it's all
colors and disarray
with it's mismatched secrets
forgotten dreams
watercolor sky
lonely and alive
a broken heart
that's been loved
today, the dishes lay unused
supermarket flowers
half empty coffee cups
lay skewed
birds sachet by
bidding time
until sunset
warm sweaters
and contemplation
happy, warm drinks
to liven the senses
remember,
don't cry when I'm gone
the path always winds back again
time ticks by
it's all relative
sighs and sounds like waves
electric skies
make way for birds to come
for something better
memories
soft and wild
sugar-fine but complex
come into color
to dream about
Sarah Mahina Calvello
