Poetry by Jeri Thompson

You looked at me

You looked at me in a way
that reminds me I am animal,
as if I were the only woman
who could light up your sheets.
You look at me as if I were your gravity,
holding you to earth as it all spins out.
You look at me as if I were a safe harbor
from your inner squalls.
You easily crumble the guards about my heart.

My little girl’s heart
dreamed of the prince on a white stallion.
He would lift me from the everydayness of life,
while the sun shone and the birds sang.
He never came for me. I waited a long time,
then you looked at me.

Not at first, we grew together like spring,
sizzled for summer and mellowed like the
orange and blue of fall.
We plan to make it through winter.
Those who know me are taking bets
on the if and when of it.
But if you keep
looking at me that way,
I plan to remind you
everyday
why.




One Word

Gomez Addams about to burst a dandelion clock
as Lady of the Night blooms
in the focus of the full moon.
He breathes in the bud of her smile,
there is no other woman in his garden.
Morticia tames his heart with one word.

He is the mustang, she is the bit
he doesn’t feel restrained
she needn’t pull the reins.
He, always her winning steed.
She turns his cambering into campaigns
then leads the parade of his success,
or finds jewels in his rearing.

Morticia is what holds Gomez:
A woman who can stand alone,
yet chooses to stand next to him.
A woman who can hold him close
yet not consume him.
A woman with angles that
spark and spread like a diamond’s echo.

She weaves their warp and woof into a web.
She stokes his fingers of flame. Combustion in one word,
a throaty proposition:
Bubbeleh.





Just Smile

I have Smiling Depression, I was told.
It comes from my father always demanding,
“Get that frown off your face, Smile." 
"Smile.” 
“Don’t look at me that way,” 
"Smile, SMILE!"
“I’ll give you something to cry about.” 
"Smile!"

Years later, told by many men:
"Smile, you’re such a pretty girl when you Smile."
"Smile!" 
“What’s wrong? You should Smile.”  
“…Smile more.” 
“You look tired, you should Smile.”  
"Just Smile.”
“Give us a Smile, Sweetie”        
"Smile, Baby, Smile."

Smile!        
Smile!! Just 
SMILE!!!"
(Fuck You!)

​

Bio: So Cal resident who has recently returned to poetry after a 25 year dry spell. Her work can be seen in Chiron Review, Cadence Collective, Cactifur, Lummox 4, and Blaze/Vox. She is currently working on her first chapbook.

---