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Susan Lilly is a writer, photographer, and jewelry maker from the New York area. She was active in the open mic poetry scene while living in the Boston area, and has continued to create new work and network with other artists through social media. During her years in the Boston poetry scene, Susan printed copies of her first book titled May December, which contained poetry, and a short story. She has been published in Boston area papers, and in online publications. The main focus of Susan’s work is time, distance, and nature, topics that strongly affect how she views and interacts with the world. Susan’s new collection of poetry with one short fiction piece is now available digitally starting at just $2. The title is Galaxies, Oceans, and Us. Please contact her at susanlilly@zoho.com to purchase.

Grey Nights In Daylight

Susan Lilly

(Inspired by William Carlos Williams’ A Widows Lament In Springtime)

Twice today
my hand brushed against
your urn.

Each day since
you’ve been gone
from my bed,
sorrow duels with happiness
in the tiny crevices
of this house,
not home,
where my hurting hand
can not sweep away
the remaining strands
of dusty grey hair.

I stared at catalogs
with new loveseats circled,
thick lines of permanent ink
fading away to grey.
Then I slumped down
in a duct taped bean bag chair,
and watched a candle burn
to its end.
The warm comfort cold,
hard as the room darkened
by daylight.

12 years I lived with my cat.

2 weeks I’ve lived
with mediocre condolences.
10 lilies,
an angelic bouquet of
poisonous petals.
A meaty casserole
that I would have
scooped into your dish,
fools didn’t even remember
I’m vegetarian.

A neighbor stopped by
and painted my
bitten nails ballerina pink.
Tonight I would like to
stand on my tip toes,
twirl and twirl,
and jump high
into the pillowy clouds.

 — Su Lilly

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To have your work considered for the Lyrical send it to:
Doug Holder, 25 School St.; Somerville, MA 02143
dougholder@post.harvard.edu