Sitcom Of Charming Laughs

Sitcom Of Charming Laughs
© Surazeus
2025 03 05

Puttering around her house each afternoon 
in plain white dress she wears to do housework, 
Shemaiah carols absent-mindedly. 
"This time next year I might almost be dead 
so I swirl outward from my aching head 
to give you treasure I hide in my heart." 

Afternoon breeze flutters curtains of fate 
that shift beams of sunlight on the cracked plate 
where two oranges glow with eerie desire. 
"I feel long road of time unspool my heart 
through undulating thread from my star chart 
that leaves me stranded on island of dread." 

When her daughter arrives home from high school 
she smiles and watches her climb shadowed stairs 
then disappear through door of silent hope. 
"My life is no sitcom of charming laughs, 
except for journey of lonely giraffes 
that gather in starlight around the pool." 

The rumbling garbage truck that creaks and beeps 
stops under the oak where the goldfinch cheeps, 
and swallows sorrows she has thrown away. 
"Sometimes I feel I am the only one 
who asks the angels why nobody cares, 
though I will always keep the Golden Rule." 

The man who stalked her in college appears 
from flickering shadow of long willow leaves, 
and stands on the path halfway to her house. 
"My happiness escapes cage of my heart 
to fly toward Heaven on wings of desire 
where I want to join the angelic choir." 

Hefting the baseball bat in her right hand, 
she slams open the door of confidence 
and strides toward the man with the bitter gun. 
"I have the right to live in liberty, 
secure in safety of my private home, 
so kill me and die in prison alone." 

The gun turns out to be the camera 
he stole from her apartment years before, 
which he returns now with apology. 
"These photos I took of the mountain lake 
where I went hiking to find peace of God 
reveal sad naivety of my youth." 

Adjusting focus of the camera, 
Shemaiah photos goldfinch in the oak 
that flutters wings of carefree purity. 
"This time next year I may not be alive, 
so I passionately live this hour of faith, 
capturing beauty of this world I love."