Poems by Lisa E. Sheroan

A horse on a hill
Past the old railroad tracks
Just up the road
From the broken-down shack

I walked through the churchyard
In the overgrown grass
Alone with my grief
That old horse I did pass

He meandered up to me
No saddle to ride
Just a horse with no keeper
Now a friend by my side

We walked slowly along
Lost in sadness and thought
We traveled a path
To the stream I was brought

My mother's reflection
I glimpsed in the water
A moment in time
That we shared together

The lonely old horse
My friend for the day
Brought peace to my soul
In his quiet old way

A gift I was given
From a horse on a hill
A glimpse of my mother
In the water so still

The horse then retreated
In his slow, tired way
To his spot on the hill
His magic spent for the day

A horse on a hill
In my grief helped me see
The reflection of my mother
Was my mother in me

My mother is the feeling
Of lost love found again
A soldier home from war
The shoulder of a friend

Rarer than a mermaid
Glimpsed playing in the sea
She's a love note in a bottle
That found its way to me

My mother is the feeling
Of a cold cloth on my head
When I need to feel her warmth
She's the blanket on my bed

Like a long lost treasure found
A priceless coin along the shore
A map to hidden wonders
The hope of something more

She is my favorite rocking chair
A kitten soft and warm
She is the robin's song
She's the sun after the storm

My mother is the feeling
Of a strong hand holding mine
An arm around my waist
An experience divine

She's a never-ending summer's night
She's nectar to the bee
She's the feeling that I love
She's everything to me

My phone is ringing, thank goodness!
A smile across my face
I know it's mom, a welcome return
Home from some strange place

"Where have you been? It's been too long!
I need to tell you something!
What would you do if you were me?"
My fate would be forthcoming

Always right, always the truth
Sometimes her words would cut me
My heart would sink, my brow would furrow
My wish was not to be

Somehow she knew the answer
"I sense doom and gloom," she'd say.
I'd pretend it wasn't true
And go on my merry way

Somehow it always came to be
Just as she said it would,
"Something's wrong with this one, and
that one is no good."

"You dodged a bullet," she'd say.
Her rationale would follow
Pity those who crossed her
You might not see tomorrow

Catch up on our favorite shows
Poking fun at dad
Plan a weekend movie
Most fun we've ever had

My God, how much I miss her!
I need my phone to ring
I promise I will take the call
I'll drop everything

How odd she hasn't called me
I have so much to say
It feels so right to answer
So wrong to walk away

If she called today
I would not be surprised
I knew it was a dream
A nightmare filled with lies

"Oh mom, I know you're there!
Call me when you're through.
You'll laugh when you hear this!
Ok. Talk soon. I love you!"

Can I really love anything?
My home, my life, the fantasy?
What trouble will it bring,
If I can't love anything?

Without her beside me now
Without him there next to her
What good am I to anyone?
Everything is just a blur

Won't change my name again
To them I will be true
My brother's sons I share it with
Won't share my name with you

Can I really love anything?
Or anyone now they are gone?
The answer now is no
So just go on now. Move along.

But somehow I love the flowers
Only blooms and leaves are lost
I know they simply slumber
They’ll return after the frost

I love the birds that do not stay
Will await their long return
They'd return now if they knew
The depth of my concern

Can I really love anything?
Does my heart have any room?
Waiting for the birds' return
Waiting for the flowers' bloom

As my hardened heart grows softer
As I inch my way into
A meaning in my life
The birds and flowers and you

I'll try to love the best I can
Though it's hard to see it it through
Can I really love anything?
Because of them, because I should, because I do

Boom. Boom. Boom.
The rhythmic sound wakes me
From a deep, peaceful sleep
What could it be?
It's the middle of the night!
I'm alone in my apartment

Boom. Boom. Boom.
I get up slowly to investigate
The room is dark
The hour is late
Fear makes its way inside
And finds me where I'm standing

That terrible sound!
How do I make it stop?
Run and scream?
Flag down a cop?
It's 3 AM!
I'm alone in my apartment

The floor vibrates; the windows shake
Reluctantly, I cross the room
Am I testing fate?
Will I meet my doom?
My horror realized
It's coming from the alley door

Am I dreaming?
My heart begins to race and pound
Is it me?
Is my fear the sound?
In this old building
That once was a convent

I place my hand on the cursed door
Terrified of what it may be
A ghostly messenger?
A macabre delivery?
I don't really want to know
So I stand there draped in fear

Time slowly passed; the booming faded
Who or what was at my door?
On the alley side
On the second floor
Of a former convent next to a church
That I now call my home

Time for me to pack my things
Sleep paralysis, nightmares
I wanted to leave
I had my fill of midnight scares
And the rhythmic booms that shook the rooms
Of that dreadful, old apartment

"Aren't you glad you moved out?
It sure is a creepy, old place.
It's haunted, you know."
Wish you'd seen the look on my face!
I'm glad I didn't open that door
I kept it shut till it boomed no more

Stay away from 615 North Street!

Oh, his blue eyes and smile had me hooked
His talent unsurpassed
A lover's language I understood
I fell hard and fast

Flipped my switch and shook my core
He knew exactly what to say
I needed him and nothing more
A game I'd gladly play

And yet I'd see a sign or two
I tried hard to ignore
Little things from time to time
Began to happen more and more

But I knew what I was doing
I made a terrible choice
I'd have put my life on indefinite hold
Just to hear his voice

Expertly he held the cards
Controlled the game with skill
Wasted my time, confused my mind
Before he went in for the kill

The truth revealed in the strangest way
A veil lifted from my eyes
His voice was a hiss; his eyes black as pitch
His lover's language: only lies

Time revealed his identity
My countenance showed my horror
He shed his clothes and human skin
And slithered to the floor

Thank God for providence
And for revealing my mistake
My darling love, my sweetest friend
Was nothing but a snake

It's sad to think about, heartbreaking to see
Great men and women of our military
Homeless and hungry, lost in despair
Begging for someone to notice or care

A young man poisoned by media lies
Tried to take a Leader by surprise
An angel intervened that day
The Leader turned the other way

Thank God Almighty his life was spared!
His protectors, though, were unprepared
So many questions and no answers yet
Some evil people lost a bet

Please help me understand
Why can't we just walk hand in hand?
Red or blue, should it matter at all?
Anger and hatred will be our downfall

Jesus, please, protect this land
Or strike me down right where I stand!
I can't bear to see it fall apart!
Destroyed by those with wicked hearts

Watched with shaking hands, in shock
As a Leader was wounded, then scorned and mocked
Watched him raise his fist that night
Telling the world to "Fight. Fight. Fight."

With love in my heart for this great nation
In spite of high taxes and inflation
My hope is in heaven above
The source of peace and safety and love

We can agree to disagree
But let's do it with respect and civility
I hope you'll take my hand, in solidarity
And cherish this land of the brave and the free