Three Poems By Amelia Díaz Ettinger

To Think 

that in the dim light of morning’s silence,
i count the ways a bird calls; I’m here, I’m 
this small satisfaction earns me tonight
quiet passage— gratitude and delight

dawn isn’t a sanctuary, but i find
reverence in the wonder of daylight
this trial treasure brings breath and bone hope
like the red of a berry found in snow

this fortune to find a presence in light
in this storm of life, sunbeam and bird song
a serene quiet step on grass or snow
that simple heed transforms yesterday's woes

join me in mornings' walk of light, of bird,
of rest—trust it brings soothing peace—in thought

Haiku

Ukiah distant rain
a palindrome of thunder—
storms within these walls

Waves From the Inner Passage 

No more heroes in this landscape
just the quiet repose of ocean
burnishing with exquisite foam,
but lacking the sound of waves

Just the quiet repose of ocean
hidden beneath discarded sand
but lacking the sound of waves,
and all the shells that came to rest

Hidden beneath discarded sand
each grain captures a passing thought
and all the shells that came to rest,
in these shores so far away from land.

Each grain captures a passing thought
burnishing with exquisite foam
in these shores so far away from land,
no more heroes in this landscape

Amelia Díaz Ettinger is a self-described ‘Mexi-Rican,’ born in México but raised in Puerto Rico. As a BIPOC poet and writer, she has two full-length poetry books published; Learning to Love a Western Sky by Airlie Press, and a bilingual poetry book, Speaking at a Time /Hablando a la Vez by Redbat Press, and a poetry chapbook, Fossils in a Red Flag by Finishing Line Press.