“It does not suffice
for you to say I am a sweet girl,
or to say you hate to see me sad
because of you.
It does not suffice,
to merely lie beside each other,
as those who love each other do.”

Painting by Becca Mann.

creenz:

portrait of Joanna Newsom by Jeremy Enecio

“I will pack up my pretty dresses.
I will box up my high-heeled shoes.
A sparkling ring, for every finger,
I’ll put away, and hide from view.
—
Coats of boucle, jacquard and cashmere;
cartouche and tweed, all silver shot—
and everything that could remind you
of how easy I was not.
—
I’ll tuck away my gilded buttons;
I’ll bind my silks in shapeless bales;
I’ll wrap it all on up, in reams of tissue,
and then I’ll kiss you, sweet, farewell.”

Photo by Annabel Mehran.

Stacy’s Harpist

With weathered skin, 
of flowers pressed
your tender hands 
of flesh caress —
by song in tune,
a voice discreet —
that breath of life 
could sound so sweet,
and it is my soul
you must have met,
and with me here, 
the hair you left —
which ties of strings 
to my quick ear,
in hopes to keep 
that echo dear.