by Joan Osterman
Pleasure pirouettes in, platinum curls
plaited with purple ribbon. Her giggles
twinkle. Anklets, bracelets of bells tinkle
as she drapes herself over Pain,
who hunches at the table, crunches
chicken bones, crashes ceramics.
Clamors for attention. Exhausts himself.
Nods off, snores until roused by Rage
and Fear at the drum set—arms,
legs, intertwined, thumping foot pedals,
smashing cymbals, oblivious to others.
Surprise! slips into sangria, drifts
on an orange slice, whistles a tune
from inside the crystal bowl. A goldfinch
alights in her hair, cheeps, nesting.
Grief peers through fog, munches on caviar,
rolls the ocean around his mouth.
Sucks salt from a jumble of memories.
Calm whispers in, as coastal mist drifts
around them. Hums “Summer Samba”
while Grief strums the guitar
and welcomes Harmony.
© Joan Osterman, 2023, All rights reserved
Poetic License Sonoma 