Black Haven
– Poetry by Patricia Rossi – November 16, 2018
The Shadow Box
Displayed within, life’s moments extrapolated, tangible anguish, remnants of sorrow.
With haphazard intent, encapsulated vestiges scattered:
—–A faux pearl button, handmade half a century ago.
—–Wooden rosary beads, your abacus of prayer,
——-a lifetime of daily recitations.
—–A sepia drenched photo of your faded youth.
—–A lonesome pink petal from the single rose I laid upon your
——-coffin that windswept frigid day.
Centered on the stark white mantelpiece, there it rests, the shadow box,
a sealed archive of recollection, reflection, a daily reminder of the fragility of life,
the proximity of death,
my innate need to never let you go
The Fabrication of Dementia
Threads of memories weave a tapestry, a colorful fiber clustered collection of life’s
fragile moments, delicately interlaced with decades of intricate details
Vibrant recollections unfold before me
Seams burst with archives from yesteryear
Wrinkles of emotion…
Embroidered brocades of pain, sorrow, anger, regret, euphoria
As my trembling hands clasp life’s frayed fringes, my fingers stumble upon unexpected
gnarled and twisted knots
Comfortably cloaked in a lucid jacquard, then suddenly…I am donned in a veil of
vagueness and confusion
Incognito
If only she could recognize me…she would realize how truly near I am
Her wailing sobs silence my spiritual presence
———I am….the whistling wind
—————–the rustle in the scattered leaves
—————–the chirps at dawn
—————–the rhythm of a lapping ocean
—————–the clanging church bells
—————–the creaks in the old porch swing
———She sits on that porch swing, sways of sorrow, her head held in hand…
—————–tragically unaware…..I sit beside her
About the Author – Patricia Rossi
Patricia Rossi is an attorney, published author and freelance artist. Her written works have been featured in magazines, newspapers and literary journals.
Patricia has participated as a panelist at previous Hofstra conferences including, The Reality and The Promise, The 50th Anniversary of the New Mets, and The George W. Bush Presidential Conference. Patricia’s presentation from The Reality and The Promise was subsequently selected for publication and featured in the book, The Reality and The Promise, published by Cambridge Scholars.
Patricia has also written and presented at academic conferences at St. Francis College and Oneota College.
On a voluntary basis Patricia facilitates a variety of writing workshops for cancer survivors and parents who have lost a child. The purpose of these said workshops is to utilize and embrace writing as a means of healing. Patricia also serves as a mentor in Sloan Kettering’s writing program for cancer patients. In addition, Patrica facilitates a writing club on Saturday mornings for severely disabled adults who want to write stories. Throughout the years Patricia has written and applied for a NYS grants, she has been fortunate to receive funds and utilized the said funds to create and implement writing workshops as a form of empowerment specifically for women from underserved areas in Nassau County.
Patricia currently serves as board secretary for Splashes of Hope, a Long Island based not for profit. In addition , she serves as board secretary on the Executive Alumni Board for Molloy College and also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Molloy College paralegal program and serves as Advisory Board Member for Literacy Nassau.
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