isn’t it pretty to say so

by Nina Heiser


she was a wonder she was a
knockout she was unlike anyone
who came before she was
a difficult woman she was
my mum

Vega to your fuchsia-lipped sun
you who were velocity
and I a blur unbudging
at constant motion
the falling vulture felicity

there is no third eye
in the delta
where our river
split and spread
‘swoosh away that kiss

you were the fire and I
the shadow-stranding star
that vessel lost in its own
gin-soaked beauty

I pray to the darkest angel
the mother of us all
who we say does her best
though we believe we know
it is not good enough


* * * * *

Nina Heiser is a poet, writer and retired journalist currently living in central Florida and New York. Her work has appeared in Tuck Magazine; Cadence, the Florida State Poets Association Anthology; Vociferous Press anthology Screaming from the Silence; Embark Literary Journal; and Gargoyle Magazine. Her poetry and photographs have been featured in Pendemics Journal, and Of Poets & Poetry.