Margin Poems

– Anonymous Poetry, Art by Geena Massaro –

The following exhibit revisits a concept originally explored in our Autumn, 2020, Metanoia-themed issue. What, hidden gems, treasured doodles, scripts, and secret thoughts will we find jotted in the margins of old notebooks? This year, an anonymous poet, tweeting as: @silentcrystals, contributed a series of elongated poems suited to fit in the margins of Monologging. The presentation culminates with a slideshow pairing the poet’s responses to a spontaneous Q&A session concerning the act of publishing anonymously, with close-up photography illuminating the intricate textures and colors in paintings by Ithaca-based artist, Geena Massaro.

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1.

I
traced
with
fervor
the
rough
edges
between
two
winters
waiting
for
days
dawning
to
blow
the
chaos
away

Now
this
soul
on
fire
near
the
fountain
of
twilight
is
no
longer
among
the
fallen

2.

I
tore
the
sky
apart
as
oceanic
wings
held
protective
drops
of
sunlight
weeping
concern

Their
unique
beauty
just
out
of
reach
of
the
now
For
no
light
could
pierce
the
darkness
of
grief

3.

Along
the
edge
of
clouds
the
scarlet
wind
conspired
with
the
moon
for
another
second
chance
this
time

A
mystical
verse
of
the
long
forgotten
of
what
remains
are
the
slow
sips
of
silence
as
I
remember
you
I’m
out
of
breath

4.

At
eventide
the
rainbow
realms
of
our
whimsical
rendezvous
was
our
rescue
from
the
troubled
days
ahead
as
crimson
choruses
drowned
out
unrelenting
demands

 

5.

As
empathy
for
others
is
forced
into
the
empty
of
notorious
selfishness
we
become
refugees
of
love

 

6.

Amidst
the
fog
my
Polaris
lays
in
a
galaxy
of
solitude

Suspended
between
the
words
we
say
and
attempts
to
stare
down
my
ghosts
prickly
as
cactus
or
glistening
as
diamond
nights

***

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Geena Massaro is a visual artist and poet. She received her BFA in drawing in painting from Pratt Institute in 2016. Her work varies in subject matter and material. Geena Massaro currently lives in Ithaca, NY.