HEARTS

by Susan Tepper


Determined to stop all feeling
we drive our hearts
deep into winter

as if they are the hearts 
of vampires

And, we, the mighty
possessed of hammer & stake
have the right to banish
this crude interloper

this heart
done-up in scarlet, no less—

A fusion of veins and vessel of
dreams sweet and bitter
this heart

destined to follow its 
natural course

dragging bewildered body 
behind in its wake,
or simply sitting still
as a statue in the park.

Dare we sentence it
to wither
alone
in dank chambers


* * * * *

"Hearts" was first published in Lyrical Somerville, The Somerville Times and is part of Susan Tepper's collection Confess (Červená Barva Press, 2020)

Susan Tepper is a twenty year writer who works in all genres, and the author of ten published books of fiction and poetry.  Her new play "The Crooked Heart" concerns artist Jackson Pollock in his later years and is forthcoming.  www.susantepper.com