Under Garibaldi 's mocking shadow

Under Garibaldi' s mocking shadow

We sat sheathed in the elms green semidarkness
His marble back with letters on Italian seems saying
I seen it, felt it , not surprised by reaction

You near me , studying people in the park
Yet me just studying your reflection, composition
The tired eyes, the slouching pose of fatigue
Please turn and look at me , giving the attention

I am here bathing in the nakedness of the perception
Dissected into open,innards raw pieces for inspection
Hungry for smile , thirsty to taste sweet and salty kisses
Squeezing closer till there no space in between us
Aware of your thigh touching mine in the attempt to send
Indecent proposal to pursue it further right here on bench
I am too bold or impish appetite got better of my senses
Do not care for answer to this question, nor for passersby glances
All i need is your engrossment into my world
Good man Garibaldi will be watching

by Margaret Gudkov

The caterpillar hanging on the thread

The caterpillar hanging on the thread

The caterpillar hanging on the thread
Swaying from left to right in the attempt to climb up
Tenacious little creature wiggling back to leaf 
Continuing the cycle preordained for her

I watch amazed , thinking about my life
All climbing, ambulating , jumping over
Laughing, crying, solving , failing many times
Giving the road to despair after falling from the fence
Hmm .. and caterpillar just pull her tiny body up without worries

The human race is where i belong
With cons and pros that come along
Imperfect , sinful,moody and impulsive
Not been outdone by some larva stubborn mien
And if trapeze is what i have to balance on so be it
The heights scare me but fear will not destroy

by Margaret Gudkov

Lavender fields

Lavender fields

Smell of baguette invading nose
France dancing can-can on the mouth
The images of Provence lavender fields
Caressing eyes with purple brush in hand

Speak to me in French
Pulling the words like tiny gems from hidden pockets
Arraying on the plate, the tarts, eclairs, cream puffs
Attracting hands to pick it up and murmur in delight
Parlez-vous français? and answer ... oui , I am now

Beret on the side, eyes smiling slyly
Common cherie,you whispering in ticklish breath
Let's make love in those imaginary lilac meadows
Imaginary , are you sure, they are so real to me
I say oui again, inhaling the aroma of the tiny spikes

Everything material, the flowers
You, me amidst the giant bouquets of divine beauty
The peace never sounded as tranquil as grasshoppers buzzes
In orchestrating our secret rendezvous , slipping from memory
and back, confusing mind to look for border in between
Is it really that important?..i say non, merci cheri for you been here
Near me, understanding my capricious nature

by Margaret Gudkov

I get a fever

I get a fever from your sweet caress

The vibes of gentleness crisscrossing body
True love is hard to mistake for burning lust
Is not a bad thing but is not enough to build
Long lasting union of trusting bonding

I know you will be on my side
When the misfortune strike upon in brutal manner
It's comforting to feel the wind , the aura of sentimental crush
Brushing against the porous inclinations in the soul
Oh, wind don't stop the gusts and fill me in

The nature brought you to surprise my tired self
Pushing through majestic waves of the unquiet ocean
Through desert dunes , inhaling scalding steam of sky
Through Berbers songs, floating in the unlimited horizon
You walked, you swam, you peregrinated in the unexpected
Been alien by birth, by spirit not belonging anywhere
Ending at last near me , another non belonging human
Shivering from cold drops of solitude upon me
I am glad we met, we recognized the unspoken language ... love

by Margaret Gudkov
art by Catherine Andrews

The dragon woke up in the sky

The dragon woke up in the sky

Spitting the fire drops on earth in angry feat
Roaring thunderously for sheer theatrical effect 
Before main show of the down-pouring deluge
As like he slept amidst soft cloud pillows in warm cavern
Rudely disturbed by some noisy outbursts
And now showing displeasure in the utmost manner

He roared and howled again with lightening sideshow
Stomping the feet in booming turbulence
Adding babel to already loud pandemonium of water
Pushing it's way to imploring, parched ground's throat
But everything have end, so dragon became tired
Quietly watching rain slide off the sky's highway
The pace of it slowed down to the degree of shower ..no more
Boosting the vegetation to spring out to the blooming cannonade

by Margaret Gudkov

Creamy taste of past

Creamy taste of past

The nostalgia always skimming
On the top of boiled , tired thoughts
Making you believe of Jesus really walked across the water
That past somehow was a magic world of miracles indeed
Everything looked better, rosier and simpler

Is it a creamy taste of past
Or fancy cover on the brain confection born with
Indulging yourselves to travel through the younger years
Reliving the impossibility of coming back in real life
The secret defense mechanism against the harshness

Whatever reason of such floating sensations
Appearing in spontaneity of time and space
The nostalgia lives , surrounded by the fertile ground
Blossoming in the profoundest periods of contemplation
Just do not know for sure if it is good thing to go back
Spurring the ghosts appearing and the present melting

by Margaret Gudkov

The undiluted shamans chants

The undiluted shamans chants

Hang in the heavy silence of the ancient forest
The trees are singing in the depths of wooden hearts
Emitting light infused healing powers
The firs and birches swing slightly in the air
Almost impossible to notice by untrained eyes
Possessing spirits souls universal knowledge
The Other world is channeling through them
You cannot hear the song but yet it there
Filling the taiga with an aura of muffled magic
The stories telling in the musical vibrations
The tribal drums forecasting things to come
Mixing of languages or maybe multicultural
What does it matter in the big scheme
The message is the one all inclusive truth
The animals accept , following the path
As humans we're not sensitive enough
To hear the music in the midst of nature
When portals open for mere mortals to discover
We ignore, spooked by unknown feeling

The undiluted shamans chants
Bring times of spiritual wonders back
Making the trees sing, the mountains to whisper
And for us ..to stand back , listening yourselves
Then only we would understand the regal music
Hidden in the unfathomable expense of silent forest

by Margaret Gudkov