Impermanence
A poem by Barbara Cassidy

Impermanence

Opening the backdoor to
the quick breath of cool 
the scent of rain
earthy dank new growth

familiar as

the stringent first hit of
the infant
the smell of death 
bereavement

a lifetime in one

tingling inhale
wanting to sniff it down to zero
wanting to imprison memory

a lush exhale
the past dissipates
gone

About the Author:

Barbara Cassidy is a poet, singer-songwriter, and Sean-nós singer who resides in Massachusetts. Her poems have appeared in Open Doors Review, Gnashing Teeth Publishing and included on the 2023 Martin Poetry Path. Two of her poems have been set by composer Eric Chasalow. Barbara holds a BFA from Boston Conservatory and an MA in Sociology and Women’s Studies from Brandeis University. She is a member of ASCAP and Actors’ Equity.

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