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The fuzzy creature hides
and seeks
in nether space
beyond the realm of soul,
flesh grunting
fist raised,
eyes defiant,
watching the fog
that thins to light
to dim again to dark,
snatching distracted moments
to leap the abyss
with monkey quickness,
infesting
aromatic spaces with
jungle smells,
clambering in frenzied glee
behind hot eyes
tumescent, reflecting the sodden spirit
within.

to see you no more

bruised colors
smear a western sky

reds rot
and drift in clots
against a swollen sun
cracking against
the sharp edge of night

day flakes to darkness
and ashen shadows fill
the empty spaces
where joy was

Bio: A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Janet Butler recently relocated to the Bay Area of California after living in central Italy for many years. While enjoying the many beauties of Italy, she managed to find time to be serious: she collaborated with Dr. Romeo Giuli in the translation of his poetry from 1997 to 2003, and a selection of these poems was published by Solveig Publishing, Siena, Italy. Ms. Butler then decided it was time to dedicate herself to her own creative writing. Her poems have since been published in several editions of Scrivener’s Pen, in FrontStreet Review, Ken*again, which also published four of her watercolors, Tilt (UK), Underground Window, ForPoetry, SubtleTea, The Surface, JMWW, Prose Toad, Underground Voices, Carnelian and others. She has been presented as a featured writer for Sage of Consciousness and as featured artist for Scrivener’s Pen Volume 5, Issue 3, and Ascent Aspirations Magazine, Volume 9, No. 2, British Columbia.

email: janetleebutler@hotmail.com

Her poems and watercolors may be seen at http://www.janetleebutler.com

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