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LISA MOLINA
Instead of Death
First published in Beyond Words Magazine
Instead of death,
I choose to gently place my head, (so heavy with
thoughts of the news) on a soft pillow covered in silk,
white down comforter floats down on me;
And lift the book next to me,
open it slowly, pull it to my face,
and deeply inhale.
As I slowly chew and taste
the words of whomever feeds
their soul to me,
I devour as much as I can.
Sounds/Images/Metaphors/Rhyme/Rhythm/Textures/Meters
I cannot help but sometimes read aloud,
or write a beautifully written phrase into
my small black notebook;
Laughing. Weeping.
No.
Death cannot enter this sacred space.
It is the here and now that resurrects
My Soul.
Heaven.
Nirvana.
Life
Everlasting.
Ode to My Wrists
First published in Amythest Review
My wrists
tiny glass brittle bones broken,
shattered when I slipped and fell.
My wrists
hung on a Chinese finger trap with
weights pulling them to realign in the ER.
My wrists
“Will I be able to play piano?” I ask the doctor, even though
my wrists’ fingers hadn’t touched the dusty keys in over a year.
My wrists
now suddenly becoming the most
important things in life to me.
My wrists
repaired with metal plates by a surgeon three days
later, held together with pins and plates forever.
My wrists
trapped in their bandaged wrapped cocoons,
waiting for the fluttering wing fingers to emerge.
My wrists
slowly, painfully healed as my husband fed me,
clothed me, toileted me, held me gently.
My wrists
unable to turn pages of a book or write a poem
or text a friend or caress the fluffy fur of my cat.
My wrists
finally released, spreading their fingers outside their cocoons,
covered in scars forever of remembrance and gratitude.
My wrists
lay their fingers on the piano keys and begin to play the notes
through my whole body, as I joyfully weep in prayer of swollen pain.
My wrists
caress/console/carry/captivate/pen/pages/poems/
playing/piano/fingers/feeling/fluttering/
Flying
Free.
Blizzard
First published in Tiny Seed Literary Journal
I sense the uninvited cold needles
coming.
Winds howling calling my name.
Walls closing in.
Forcing myself out; Steeling myself
against sharp ice cutting slicing
ears, eyes, hair.
Digging, clawing the frozen earth;
Hands bleed. White snow ice
transforms to embryonic pink.
Hiding, residing underground,
Waiting.
Will I suck all the air from this atmosphere?
My flesh feeding worms, ants,
and roots of trees?
Holding my breath. Listening for signs.
Silence. Sleep.
The ice
Drips
Drips
Drips
Until
Suddenly, out of this world womb I fly!
Warm sun of rebirth
blinds me with white light
until storms return.
For now, though, I shine.
​
Poet's Description for "Blizzard"
​
“Blizzard” is all about overcoming great odds in order to become more resilient; whether it is from a physical injury, a mental health crisis, or even a spiritual turning point (a “Dark night of the soul.”). It is very much inspired by having to cope with my son’s three battles with cancer by the time he was thirteen years old.
Clearly, the images I use pertaining to a literal blizzard are metaphorical, and I hope that, with the words and images I have used, this piece resonates with readers as having the ability to overcome extremely difficult situations through sheer willpower, grit, patience, and determination; and that it is through these inevitable trials in life that we become more resilient and are truly able to “shine.”
Written by: Lisa Molina
Painting: Winterberries (Sherri Crabtree, 2012)
LISA MOLINA
​
Lisa Molina is a writer/educator in Austin, Texas. Her digital chapbook “Don’t Fall in Love With Sisyphus,” published by Fahmidan Publishing & Co., is currently available for pre-orders, and she has another chapbook to be published in November, 2022. Her works can be found in numerous publications, including Firefly Review, Beyond Words Magazine, Fahmidan Journal, Sparked Literary Magazine, Neologism Poetry Journal, and The Ekphrastic Review. Molina enjoys writing, singing, playing piano the piano, and spending time with her family. She now works with high school students with special needs, and loves teaching them the joys of reading and writing.