Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Ariel

artwork: ralph murre


Ariel
by Sharmagne Leland – St. John

for Sylvia Plath
1932 – 1963
           
in Winthrop
beach behind house
storm behind cloud
beside azalea path
near the grave
of Otto Plath
before cloud
hid sun
before depression
had begun
before deceit
before letters home
had changed their tone
before despair

on Primrose Hill
no band of angels
could ever heal
nor soothe
nor salve
with balm
or metaphor
for Ariel
she is no more


~ first published in Contingencies (WynterBlue Publishing)