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AVE JEANNE VENTRESCA - POEMS

11/12/2019

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Ave Jeanne Ventresca (aka: ave jeanne) is the author of nine chapbooks of poetry that reflect social, political, and environmental concerns. Her award winning poetry, book reviews, and articles were widely published within commercial and literary publications (1980-2000). Ave Jeanne served as publisher and editor of Black Bear Review for twenty years. Recently retired from elementary school teaching, she is once again throwing herself into the poetic arena. She resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

​PORTRAIT IN BLACK & WHITE/ destination of the woman on a train /1942 April

​ruth rides the freight train

past a few suns and crescent moons,

mighty mountains are voiceless in the distance

as she travels towards some unknown destination

 

her lips long for just a sip of water.

she attempts to focus only

on memories from yesterdays that were colored benevolent and joyful

 

a pocketful of mementoes

lines her thin pockets:

crumpled photos, a few coins, and a handkerchief

embroidered by her aunt

 

her lifetime starts to float into the air above,

it becomes uncertain, vague and impenetrable.

ruth rides, as a foreigner in her own country

 

she senses those around her

but doesn't dare examine the hundreds of companions

who breathe the same soiled air.

she has some clothing in a bag

which stands at her side like a frightened advocate

 

across from her

sandwiched between a man and a woman

stands a young child with hair of shiny black.

the hair flows out from an endearing scarf

down over her jacket of blue

 

the train slows,

begins to crawl

then halts to attention

 

simultaneously

bodies rise to their feet

and hobble together like marionettes, inarticulate limbs

pour out of the railway wagon’s giant grin

relived to feel rays of sun that scatters down skin once again

 

now, she notices faces of the strangers from her train.

but no eyes share a glance,

no voice a sentence, a phrase or even a word.

she tries to act normal

 

there isn’t a need for words, no one wants to say

something wrong

 

she tightens her fist until it hurts

shuts her eyes for several seconds,

transports herself to some other place

 

she repeats over and over

a prayer from her childhood

 

ruth opens her eyes once again

the dirty road stares back at her

 

the road understands, that she has no place in this portrait

like the first chapter in some scantily written novel

the road knows she isn’t a necessary character in this plot

 

she stares across the yard.

at the end of 600 yards

a path left

or right

is sketched by traveler’s many

under musty and large synthetic clouds

 

she waits and listens

for her number

to be called

 

​PORTRAIT / the woman on Sansom Street, Philadelphia

​as she walks deliberately

down this cobblestone road

notice two boney feet

that give a kick

cruel and brassy

 to

every soundless soda can

and sleeping paper trash

that stands

in her scheduled path

 

          she hates them

 

nevertheless

they always appear

again

the following day

 

she knows

they will be there

once again

like the faceless strangers

who shove her shoulder’s coat,

like august moon

     (thin and polished)

that adjusts itself to guide

this travel home

 

and as moon fades

on Samson Street

a disenchanted sun

gives birth

to more & more

apathetic debris

 

cans with muddy profiles

propaganda on print stained paper

napkins of greasy hands

coffee cups & lids of chewed plastic

all surround her walk

 

how they inaudibly multiple

and

she categorically

has no control

 

          she hates them

 

 

 

PORTRAIT / Ada Klein recalls her grandmother

labeled boxes

 hold my days

and nights

within their

soundless

 limbs

 

with my

right hand

 i feel

this face

 wrapped in

so sad.

it proves

my

presence

but there is

no evidence

 of life

before or

within

 

where once

 there was

a mirror,

opaque walls

reflect

no sentences

no phrases

no vowels

 

all these flashbacks

 many and loud

hum

in minor key

as they

have forgotten

how to

sew words

into strands

 

wooden door

slams fast

 

a decade

closed

 
​

​PORTRAIT / the road without birds

​the concrete door was far above

and what rests behind it

is untouched by travelers or clouds

 

it didn’t strike the travelers

that oranges round or any fruit

is not in view,

that patches of grass didn't grow.

 

They remain foreign

from aromas of herbs and familiar flowers.

 

then there was music,

someone at practice

on the same chord

over & over.

but it leaves no

impression on their steady walk

 

the travelers are unscathed

by rhythms of clouds blue,

the soar of friendly pigeons

they are not comprehending that

they live within a painting

in the mind

of some tender artist

who has all control.

 

and the windows remain closed

and they don't seem to wonder what

lies beyond the dusty road

 
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