Ready-Lines
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Sometimes, silent or singing, we fall inside
to so many realizations of the beautiful.
Our spirits grow, like roots—more horizontal
than vertical.

The deliberate plans for tomorrow,
your voice finding tones in the air.

Sunlight pulls flower-petals into shape, like
a child playing with beeswax,
the moon makes sure roots have water,
worms have their own work to do.

Remember, after you fall inside go back out,
invite others into your life, and hope
they invite you into theirs.

The tailor has already chalked blue ready-lines
in the fabric of your life, now you
make the dress best-fitted to dance.

We’re the Ones
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Ghosts are always looking
for people. Our senses
pull us awake. There are streams
we will never see, flowing
underground.

The matter-of-fact wind, the silver linings
we carry in our pockets. It’s up to us
to step from the folds of the night,
leaving shadows guessing.

We’re the ones walking through char
and ash. We’re the ones filling churches
with singing. We’re the ones waking up
every day saying: “Impossible
isn’t a word the morning knows.”

Breaking Open
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Water the young trees, morning is never
falsely promised. Buddha started out as a fly,
and one day said: “Shine forth, and ignite.”
Who knows if the dying patient is resting comfortably?
What if seeds never asked to break open?
What if they fight it tooth and nail to the bitter end?
Who actually wants to fall into a thousand pieces?
Let’s come together and share each other’s sorrows.
Your fear is my fear. There are so many
wars to fight, so many unread stories shaped, like trees,
so many possibilities to serve one another.
Let’s break open into each other’s arms,
our souls vigorous as always, and say:
“Shine forth, and ignite.”

By the Way
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Even James Joyce entered singing contests,
Richard Wagner sang, but couldn’t hit a note and didn’t care,
Fred Astaire sang while dancing,
Billie Holiday blessed the child.

There are only so many notes to sing,
and we all, like birds, have ready-made voices,
we all use by-the-way breaths.

Discard what anyone thinks of you—
the good or bad from the beginning,
wear sensible shoes, and let your voice swing
with the band.

Opening Night
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Through attenuated hours and heavy-hooded eyes,
the inexact shadows, the fears running riot,
the semblances of stillness, what are we
to believe?

There are so many ready to hiss you off stage
even before the Awakening Scene,
there are those who seek to freeze you out of their lives
then high-step away, like Andalusian horses.
Yet, through the arched roof of your mouth,
and the unfolding soul, comes nothing but praise.

You are loved by many. You are encircled by angels.
When you step in from the rain, at the top of the steps
of the theater, close your umbrella slowly, like
a movie star from Paris on opening night.