In the Age of Wonder

You have probably gone through it.  The experience of watching someone evolve and blossom; to become an enhanced version of a former self; to witness to that person’s ability to be  inspirational, motivational, and bring insight and wisdom to others. 

My experiences with Rachael Z. Ikins has been that and more. And I expect as she continues her life’s path, she will further evolve, and the wait is exciting to just see what the next Ikins iteration will be and how she will continue to flourish in that embodiment.

Here are two poems and a bonus poem from Rachael for this week's "Avenues on Wednesday" program.

Enjoy Ms. Ikins. 

***

Underground

What kind of woman lifts a hoe to slash mulched ground, to unearth daffodil bulbs buried deep? What kind of woman slashes until she uproots them, then takes the blade to their voiceless white sides, their fat bellies' crumbly brown skin? Hoe as murder instrument. Surely, it has been done before.

Death by hoe. The heft and length of this tool lend themselves to violence. I cannot watch, as she raises the blade again and again, 

divots, clods of earth fly like startled bats across her lawn. Headless green soldiers obey, week after week, bear witness to the barren coming of Spring. Down deep, where earthworms and secrets keep, grass knots its hands together, fingers touching fingers touching others until a net weaves. To soak the tears Sky will surely cry.

****

Some Magic and Mystery: waiting for a heart to beat

You squeeze your fist, energy erupts.

Does magic make it happen or is it your act?

Power and sparks, glowing, glowing.

Burn and glowing.

Some say two billion magical

shocks happen in this current that flows a life-time.

How long is a lifetime? Never-enough.

You clench your fist, remind yourself to breathe.

Everyone knows oxygen fans all flames.  You  thought

you had forever. You thought you wouldn't wonder,

except in theory, about dying, not this October.

Instead you lie in the dark, your body listens:

for clench of spell cast and when it pauses,

you smack your chest open-handed to jolt;

Magic drums-- the raft that carries you

through this night.

****

RACHAEL’S BONUS POEM:

Joke

Through

pewter sky, sun

walks a longer silver stride each day.

Smoke dervishes in clouds across plains

of ice, sharp-edged snow cliffs.

Calligraphy, new flocks speckle the early

evening. Wind snatches at their voices.

Black suited with red epaulets, they cling

to naked branches, strong enough to

declare with a single note, " I am."

Off the balcony, gulls rollick through

dimensionality above parking lot,

between apartments.

Mock everything.

Laugh at nothing.

" Who says," they jeer, as they slalom

through snowflakes,

"that Spring has come?"

*****

Rachael Z. Ikins (photo provided)

Rachael Z. Ikins has compiled a diverse range of poetry, novel excerpts and new work.  She is a first prize honoree and Honorable Mention for two poems in a recent country-wide National League of American Pen Women (NLAPN) competition. A 2016 Pushcart Prize and 2013 CNY Book Award nominee, Ms. Ikins is an award winning poet/artist.  Her artwork has appeared in one-woman and group exhibits in Syracuse galleries, from Hamilton to Albany, and the NYS Fair. She has been a featured poet/artist at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, Tyler Gallery at SUNY Oswego, aaduna fundraiser in Auburn, and at Palace Poetry, Syracuse.  Ikins founded and moderated Monday Night Poetry at Sushi Blues, feature & open mic, Hamilton NY. A prolific writer and poet, she has published 6 chapbooks and a novel with the covers by herself.  The novel Totems (Log Cabin Books) is her first illustrated book. Clare Songbirds Publishing released her first full length poetry collection, Just Two Girls in August of 2017. Rachael is a member of NLAPW. She belongs to Associated Artists of CNY and other guilds. She lives with her dogs, cats, and salt water fish tank filled with creatures that glow in the dark, many plants, books, and her garden.

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