Sheri Lindner

August Night

Another day
heavy with steamy heat
settles to stillness
as the lilies wrap themselves closed for the evening.
The garret loft
holds tight the day’s dense hot
that cannot escape
through the meager skylight window
above the bed.
We switch on the roof fan
hoping to draw in night coolness.
It hits us
like a fairy spell
air washing over us
drenched in flower fragrance
drugs us
until we are breathing
only colors.
All night long
with every sleeping breath
we inhale
the sweetness of this musk liqueur.
By morning,
along with our dreams,
the mystical flower vapors
are gone,
and in their place,
freshly bathed, scentless air
to which our eyes
and a thousand buds
open.

Christmas Morning

 

      

 

Sheri Lindner, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, poet and essayist whose writings have appeared in a variety of print and online journals and anthologies.  She was awarded First Prize in the 2nd AnnualNassau County Poet Laureate Society Contest, and is currently the associate editor of Jewish Women’s Literary Annual.  Her book of collected writings is entitled Opening Eden’s Gate.