Chicanery’s Bloom
  
 A serpentine curve in the road,
 added by design.
  
 Tree trunk from straight to lean,
  
 magnificently colored roses grow along the curve of the drive.
  
 The turn of events sometimes turns sharp.
 It’s easy to be thrown aside,
 but better to be solo than in bad company,
  
 so enjoy how unlonely being alone can be.
  
 The law of the majority
 and the minority
 will both chew through you,
  
 and poke like the thorns in those roses.
  
 
 Dogs of War Conquered
  
 So great that you could overcome
 that which you thought you couldn’t,
 your internal dogs of war.
  
 While others raged on,
 you decided to watch their actions
 without heeding their shrill bark of words,
 and the truth became exposed.
  
 You had the wisdom to know when to walk away
 and you did so with head held high,
 using the most considerable dignity 
 that could be summoned.
  
 Now, use your new found freedom ,my friend,
 freedom to sit in that chair
 by your open window,
 and to drink your tea,
 and to hear silence.
  
 And lest you think I am not taking you seriously,
 I well know the price you paid to get here.
 
  
 Surfaces
    
 In the midst of the words
 he was trying to say,
  
 your exterior using
  
 distrust as a defense
 against betrayal should your bond fail,
  
 you, making your heart ache-proof,
  
 your quiet desperation
 against love’s violation. 

Linda Imbler’s poetry collections include two self-published works, “Big Questions, Little Sleep,” and “Lost and Found.”  Soma Publishing has published her two e-book collections, “The Sea’s Secret Song,” and “Pairings,” a hybrid of short fiction and poetry.  Examples of Linda’s poetry and a listing of publications can be found at lindaspoetryblog.blogspot.com.

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