A Seawall of Light   

by Jeannie E. Roberts            


an unseen benevolence
lessened the rigors
of teenage loss
amassed courage
for the path
of unknowns
persevered
when brutality
took aim
an unseen benevolence
held comfort
when the inky essence
of human predation
earmarked its prey
as if providence
an unseen benevolence
blocked the darkness
of deviation
stopped the sting
of inclination
forbade the pathology
of infringement
an unseen benevolence
forestalled the aberrance
of intent
bestowed the buoyancy
of second sight
to tread through squalls
within a seawall of light


* * * * *

Jeannie E. Roberts lives in Wisconsin, where she writes, draws and paints, and often photographs her natural surroundings. She’s authored seven books, five poetry collections and two illustrated children's books. Her most recent collection, As If Labyrinth - Pandemic Inspired Poems, was released in 2021 by Kelsay Books. Her poems appear in Panoply, Sky Island Journal, Verse-Virtual, Visual Verse, Writing In A Woman’s Voice, and elsewhere. She’s an animal lover, a nature enthusiast, and an equal rights advocate. She's also a Best of the Net award nominee and poetry editor of the online literary magazine Halfway Down the Stairs.