Soft-Boned and Other Poems

by Rosa Gilbert

SOFT-BONED

Flitter,

 flutter, 

            flap.

Soft-boned and feathered wings

wander across the wide expanse.

Not a sliver of worry, of where, when to land––

blessed assurance of the Maker’s hand.

Small soaring sparrow trusts the turning of the wind;

the uncertainty of the air is not a care—for her.

With willing wishful whispers she makes desires known,

content to cruise on altitudes of high hopes.

Trouble never plagues her peaceful ponderings.

Only serenity seeps into her spirit

to fly forever, soft-boned and feathered,

under the providence of Heaven.

WONDERS OF OLD

And after the storm, silence. 

Maybe not complete silence, but no more

howling. The wind and thunder and lightning 

hushed by a voice louder than theirs.

Trees once bowing in fear to the merciless 

tempest now erected, in respite,

able to breathe again for the first time 

since the crusade of destruction began. 

They’ve survived another fit of rage

from the sky, but still fear makes them 

tremble. Heard in the rustling of leaves not yet fallen.

Winter, the other enemy, will arrive

soon enough. So, they whisper amongst themselves,

urging aged trunks to recall wonders of old.

Of how the wind has blown 

on them before. Yet here they are, still standing. 

And so again, silence. That of branches

reaching for Heaven in quiet praise.

NEW MERCIES

When light kisses the grass again, and the wind

brushes past it gently in an early day embrace, 

                                                      I know mercy is near.

My eyes search for her in the dew,

in between the leaves beginning their first dance,

under the wet mud,

on soaring birds whose 

whistling wakes the white orchids,

petals uncurling into the morning sun.

                                                   The truth is, I find her everywhere 

in these early hours–– 

rested, refreshed, renewed.

And as my fingers coil around the warm ceramic mug, 

I trade freshly brewed coffee 

for new mercies.

I gather them up one by one 

until my cup overflows, 

                                                and I can quench my thirst all day long.

ROSA GILBERT

Rosa Gilbert is a stay-at-home mom and publishing assistant at Calla Press Publishing LLC. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Spanish is her first language. However, it was through learning English at a young age that she fell in love with words. Her work has been published at Clayjar Review, The Way Back to Ourselves, Prosetrics Literary Magazine, Calla Press, and Vessels of Light Literary Journal, among others. She lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter. You can find her writing at https://rosagilbert.substack.com and @rosagilbertpoetry.