Mary E. Martin: Permission to Forget

After a painting by Jonathan K. Rice

.

Permission to forget

that we are all in the eye

of the storm, slowly spinning

and soaring in the quiet air

while outside the pounding

and hounding of relentless

chaos.

.

Permission to forget

the dreams we don’t

like—the ones where

we scream, or fall

or feel the presence

of someone small

in the corner.

.

Permission to forget

the heavy grudge

of separation, arms

and legs slow to recognize

each other.

.

What we should remember

is how the wind like our breath

bellows the world,

the back and forth journey

a constant sharing,

like the morning

light a blaze of yellow

through the dark,

like the echo

of starlings winging

a river through the clouds.

From Turning Air into Gold (Main Street Rag, 2021). Copyright 2021 Mary E. Martin

“Permission to Forget” by Jonathan K. Rice (acrylic on canvas) 12″ x 12″. Included in Vox Populi by permission of the artist.