Sheila-Na-Gig Inc.

A poetry journal & small press

Linda Laino

lindaLinda Laino is an artist, writer and teacher who has been making art in one form or another for over 35 years. Holding an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, she enjoys playing with words as much as form and color. Since 2012, she has resided in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where the surreal atmosphere and sensuous colors have wormed their way into her paintings. The last few years have found her making art at residencies around the world, most recently in Spain and France. Finding beautiful things on the ground is a favorite pastime. Her art can be seen at www.lindalaino.com. Some of her essays and poetry can be found on Elephant Journal, The New Engagement, Sheila-Na-Gig online,  Life In 10 Minutes and her blog, wordsandpictures.lindalaino.com.

Poem at Sixty

Everything will break your heart
Blue wildflowers wilted in
the letter box, coffee
in bed smoking,
blue curls circling cracks
in the ceiling
Everything will break
A blue note kept
faithful as a swallow
ochered and creased
with age whispers
wait for me
Everything will
Two rose-colored petals
salvaged from the rubble
booked as a marker for
a life barely a flutter flash
It all will break
Words fisted then offered now
spun to the wind,
a cadmium umbilicus
wound around lives lived and stilled
still, loved just the same
It all will break.
Your heart.
Everything.
You must allow it.

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