Poetry Breakfast

First Dental Appointment

Having no appointment myself,
I’m a serene gull surfing air currents.
You’re intrigued by the hydraulic chair,
florescent lights, and sit quietly while he works.
I pat your hand, tell you what a brave boy you are.

Now its Mommy’s turn

I’m as trapped as that squirrel that fell
down our chimney, left hundreds of sooty paw prints
scurrying to escape.

My only way out
is to climb into the dentist’s chair.
You pat my hand, tell me what a brave mommy I am.

About the Poet:
Although previously published in “Scaling the Face of Reason: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry”, an eventful family life and successful career did not leave enough space for poetry. After germinating in the rich soil of motherhood and work as a nurse, Kimberly Peterson now returns to poetry full time.

Photo from Unsplash.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.

Frozen Cattail

One solitary cattail piercing the snow
Encased, a sheen of ice
Freezing the moment when
Its brown crushed velvet skin
Split to spew forth parachutes of future hope
But no one has made it out safely
No ‘see you on the other side’ departure

I am caught in the same moment
Self-confidence tumbling out, scattering
Mercury hitting the floor
I am waiting for spring to thaw out, gather myself up and go on

About the Poet:
Although previously published in “Scaling the Face of Reason: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry”, an eventful family life and successful career did not leave enough space for poetry. After germinating in the rich soil of motherhood and work as a nurse, Kimberly Peterson now returns to poetry full time.

Photo by Diapicard.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.

Retirement

No longer needing to commute,
We move out of the city.
Seeking the quiet inside a snow globe,
The simplicity of tails instead of tail lights

I’m charmed by the view out my window
Two swayed back mares
Eating hay, sleeping
Their world defined by a barbed wire fence

Outside through heavy snowfall
And minus 20 degree weather
Eating, sleeping
Echoes of the circular instructions on shampoo bottles
Lather, rinse, repeat

“Being put out to pasture” acquires new meaning
At least I have my volunteer work

About the Poet:
Although previously published in “Scaling the Face of Reason: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry”, an eventful family life and successful career did not leave enough space for poetry. After germinating in the rich soil of motherhood and work as a nurse, Kimberly Peterson now returns to poetry full time.

Photo by Junior Perez Junior.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.

Murmurs

The wind rakes his fingers through the weeping willow’s tangled hair
She murmurs in response,
Seagulls swirl above, ca ha ha laughter their commentary
Picnickers scurry like nervous squirrels to pack up their cars,
As a curtain of raindrops advances across the bay

I stretch my arms out, waiting, wanting to feel anything but numb and alone
To be drenched by a thousand tiny fingers that have touched me
Feeling more invisible than the wind
My family talking over me, ignoring my words
Until I am silent, silenced
In that moment I understand elder abuse
Too ashamed to acknowledge children who milk you like a cash cow

You need someone to lend you their voice
And this is my salvation
Being better at speaking for others than myself

About the Poet:
Although previously published in “Scaling the Face of Reason: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry”, an eventful family life and successful career did not leave enough space for poetry. After germinating in the rich soil of motherhood and work as a nurse, Kimberly Peterson now returns to poetry full time.

Photo by Wokandapix.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.

Wise Tailor

Eating alone again
I work my way down the sizes in my closet
Make regular trips to the tailor
To have waistbands taken in

When I walk in with you
The tailor assures me, “Should you need it,
I can let the waists back out.
Very professional, no one will notice.”

He was right,
About the clothes.

About the Poet:
Although previously published in “Scaling the Face of Reason: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry”, an eventful family life and successful career did not leave enough space for poetry. After germinating in the rich soil of motherhood and work as a nurse, Kimberly Peterson now returns to poetry full time.

Photo by  Jan Steiner.

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

Start your morning with a nourishing poem.  Follow us on  Twitter, Facebook, and  Tumblr,  and enjoy a new poem every morning straight to your feed.