Poems

Path

claire burroughs perez ©

One path, the beginning
Two souls, finding meaning
Long journey, a pilgrimage
Seeking only God’s image

Young eyes, full of wonder
Divine hearts, oh so tender
Innocent thoughts, budding wisdoms
Curious minds, finding kingdoms

One heart, two tomorrows
A crossroad, two arrows
One North, the Monastery
South, to New York Ferry

Northward, light and beauty
Love, peace, joy and serenity
Southward, earthly beauty
Gold, puzzles, fogs and frailty

Different ways, both divine
Miles apart, same bread and wine
Separate missions, one call
Two worlds, one soul

Photo: Santorini, Greece claire burroughs perez ©
I lost You In The Closet
claire burroughs perez ©

Somewhere along the parties, old mink and high hills
Low hemmed skirts, old factories and fashion walls
Rough sketches, ticking clocks and fine swatches
Somewhere in that dizzying world I lost you.

Why did I have to choose and can’t have two shoes
Pink, red and maybe the Jimmy Choo blues.
Packed my silence, and wrinkled heart into my tote
I am seeing someone you might have thought.

I read Vogue Mag and your closed mind
My heart contracted like shirred silk kind
My eyes I denied tears and heart died with beers
I faked a smile, clicked glasses and  Cheers!

If only I knew that each caress on the fabric samples
Each clicking steps on the cold building floors
Each smile and nod on the great glittered gown
Is exchanged with a fine jewel that is you.

I rolled my emotions tight with chantilly lace
Walked past doors with 18th century grace
Discussed, argued and reasoned with blank face
But somehow through the lace holes you have escaped

I looked through my full closet and empty heart
Hanging knickerbockers and checkered smiles
Denims and vintage gray satchel still on the side.
Your sideway smile embroidered into my mind.

Wish my heart had been 100% cotton or velvet
Straight cut, fit, flare, skinny or stretch eyelet
I look Ok with this charmeuse, grabbed my bag
my grey stiletto but where’s my other shoe?

Photo: Joshua Tree by claire burroughs perez ©

No response
claire burroughs perez ©

I prayed and no response
I sacrificed my plans
When will I be given chance
for my heart to advance

I've been praying for so long
Am I doing things wrong
I even tried it in a song
My faith is not quite strong

Again I prayed and no response
In this life alone I dance
blessed and then left in a trance
my heart's pricked with a lance

In this world I had been thrown
to do things on my own
my dreams had been blown
in sorrow I have grown

Again I prayed and no response
Knelt down and raised my hands
I guess I am deaf and blind to see
the answers are just in front of me.

 Pour Vous
claire burroughs perez ©

The pain, my thoughts, your misery                            
My heart in guilt clung to its memory                       
I wondered, I acknowledged, I denied              
For you my love I have gently cried                    

My fear, your hope & emotional clarity              
There is comfort and pain with familiarity          
Our games, the jokes, the time we spent                 
We’re so alike and yet so different.                      

Your firm resolve and my playfulness      
I dwell like a doll without a flesh
Upon your intellect where I am closely tied
The sea of minds in which we collide

The same hope which wraps my heart
enraptures my soul and fills my mind
There is something though I’ve to admit
That you I find here in my mind.

But I fear, for what I feel I am not sure.
Of everything I am unsure.
I want you to come and want you to go away.
I want all of you yet don’t want to be with you.

But love itself is quite allusive
Is it love to give up reality for a mere dream?
A fantasy that might not exist?
As celestial sky and glittering butterflies?

But here I stay against all reasons
Ignoring all changing seasons  
Treasures, jewels and paradise
Promise me then with all your lies.

Photo: Thyrrenian Sea by claire burroughs perez ©