Japanese Tea Garden
written by: Shelly Blankman
She sits alone in the Japanese Tea Garden,
this pocket of time, once an unblemished
jewel nestled in stone, a haven from human
touch, now marred by names of lovers long
parted, carved In cacti and rock walls that will
never heal as hearts do. She clasps her hands
as if in prayer for a phantom caller, while her
heart ticks away the sunlight and grows cold
as stone. Koi sparkle in the sun-kissed pond,
rippling in random orbits, stirring the silence in
gentle splashes, drifting among others without
ever touching. And she knows she is not alone.
Shelly Blankman lives in Columbia, Maryland with her husband of 43 years. They have two sons, Richard and Joshua, who live in New York and Texas, respectively. They have filled their empty nest with four rescue cats and a dog. Richard and Joshua surprised Shelly with the publication of her first book of poetry, Pumpkinhead. Her poems have appeared in The Ekphrastic Review, Verse-Virtual, Muddy River Poetry Review, and Open Door Magazine, among other publications.
Latest posts by Shelly Blankman (see all)
- Paeans on a Plane - May 22, 2024
- When Darkness Swallows The Sun - February 16, 2024
- Horror-ween - October 22, 2023
