Let Me Go

    by Marianne Lyon

You are volcano hot

lines like earthquake scribble

on screen above your head

tubes — careening wires

ascend and descend

hide under thin gown

wedding ring

mothers ring — gone

earrings detached

free to hold only

your clammy hands

that spanked, hugged us after

free to touch only

your swollen feet —

walked us to school

danced wild polkas with dad

open your silent shrouded eyes

smile your crooked grin

I sing “You are my sunshine”

your lips quiver — beginnings of a cry

please open your eyes, lift ghostly lids

they fear you will pull out large tube

hands gently tether to metal rails

you whisper, “Let me go”

won’t you open your eyes

when you see us

you will want to stay

I can hear you laugh

roll out like music

you point to the tube,

as if chewing the plastic,

mouth, “Do something for me”

even just a generous stare

if you just saw us

your liquid browns

always in heightened state

of casual awareness

having a good look around

please, if you just

you may want to stay

© 2015  Marianne Lyon

Marianne Lyon has been a music teacher for 39 years. After teaching In Hong Kong she returned to the Napa Valley and has been published in various literary magazines and reviews such as Colere 2015, Crone 2015, Trajectory 2014, Earth Daughters 2015, Feile-Festa 2015 Whirlwind 2014-2105. She spends time each year teaching in Nicaragua. She is a member of the California Writers Club, Healdsburg Literary Guild.