Susan Tepper.

Here is a poem that goes right to the heart by Susan Tepper, perfect for Valentine’s Day.

HEARTS

Determined to stop all feeling
we drive our hearts
deep into winter

as if they are the hearts
of vampires

And, we, the mighty
possessed of hammer & stake
have the right to banish
this crude interloper

this heart
done-up in scarlet, no less—

A fusion of veins and vessel of
dreams sweet and bitter
this heart

destined to follow its
natural course

dragging bewildered body
behind in its wake,
or simply sitting still
as a statue in the park.

Dare we sentence it
to wither
alone
in dank chambers

HEARTS  was previously published in Susan Tepper’s poetry chapbook “Blue Edge” (Cervena Barva Press, 2006)

__________________________________________

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