~Neighborhood Coffee~

                               

neighborhood coffee

in the morning

poured into paper cups

with no sleeves

so you can feel the heat

vibrate through your fingers

a chocolate doughnut

still soft and round

I sit at a glass table

with a braided trim

chip piled in the corners

like colored glass

a mismatched mosaic

a old woman

sits reading

the datebook
gold filigree glasses

short, blond hair curling
around tan and taut skin

high cheekbones
rest in a calm smile

a dark blue padded mosaic coat

light blue flats and flower earrings

occasionally giving directions
where things should be
in the deli around us

I smile at her
and asked her if she was the boss
we talked and laughed for awhile

she told me with pride 

how she sent

her favorite turkey sandwich

to her son
and his children

and how she’ll see them again

at Christmas

lighting up 

when she mentioned

all the food

she didn’t have to make

she slowly got up

and put away  her paper

in her bag

 

she walked up to me

her brown eyes soft
as if afraid of how I’d react
so she took my hand
lily cold and trembling
like the flower
she smelled like

”When I’m here,
l’ll help you with
with your coffee"

she said
she’s usually here in the morning’s
although I’ve never seen her before
a beautiful bent blue fairy

“I’ll help you with your coffee anytime"
we stare at each other and smile
I watch her walking away
knowing this could be me
and I wouldn’t mind
living in this
calm, blue world

                                               

                                        ~Sarah Mahinaj Calvello~

~Umbrella~

Umbrella

it was gray and heavy

like a watercolor

blurred out

it kept spilling

and smudging

icy charcoal

from the sky

I was almost crying

I was cold

and falling apart

shivering

like a trembling sigh

alone

on the rainy street

then I felt a tap on my shoulder

or at least I think he did

I turned and he was there

old but still young

bent and gentle

he bowed to me

like a gentlemen

he told me to take his umbrella

his voice was like smooth, soft music

I couldn’t understand much else

I kept saying thank you

stumbling over words

he smiled and touched my shoulder

leaving me clutching his black umbrella

dripping water

shocked

thinking that this

was the kindest thing

to have ever happened to me

I covered myself

with the black umbrella

turned to make my way home

Bob Dylan’s

“Shelter from the Storm”

in my head

~Sarah Mahina Calvello~

~Birds and Rain~

this morning,

I feel trapped

and crazy

desperate

for something

I don’t know

a new life

and clean air

crimson paper

curls and frays

on our tree outside

off the offered branch

like carnelian paper

in the fading sunlight

and the light rain

is wet and sighing

today,

3 black crows

nestled

in the thie black jade

leaves

outside my window

with their new feathers

like half fans

on the wind

simplified and distorted

at the same time

I left because I was in love

and  was afraid

your ash would burn me

I know who you are

not who you’re not

please forgive me

if I misread

your heart

~Sarah Mahina Calvello

~Seams~

underwater  dreams

of coral reefs and forgotten things

weaves in a out

between the seams

of dreams and reality

the curve

of the moon

waits for you

lily white and cold

and lonely

hangng in the cold black

where the whisps of wind curl

god only knows

when I’ll see you again

I miss you

but I’m doing alright

I remember

your moon flowers

veiny spiral

with jagged edges

blue, purple, and white

a flock of color

that frays and folds

paper on the wind

let me borrow some warth

balancing

and floating

on the edges of everything

-Sarah Mahina Calvello

~the Jade Green~

take me to where

the seaweed

meets the water

in a jade green

laugh

and a cry

that crash against each other

at the same time

were just waves

trying to find our destination

trying to fight against the jagged

and torn

edges of sea foam

I surrender

who I’ve been

for who I want to be be now

just to think

I used to be alive

why did I feel

I had to hide it away

why did I make excuses

of a weak-hearted cry

when I close my eyes

maybe someday I’ll understand why

why I set myself aside

from the laughter

now my eyes are too tired

of being weighted down

by the sea

of my own making

pulled away

by the riptide

fingers crazy

and grabbing sand

its all about which

illusion I chose

I see that now

like a storm you can’t predict,

I’m in my chaotic form

watching the sky

darken and lay form

to each rolling wave

colors

of the sunset

reflect like broken glass

on the wet sand

-Sarah Mahina Calvello~