A Poem for Emily Dickinson, and Other Sonnets by Tamara Beryl Latham

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Tamara to Emily

for Emily Dickinson

We viewed the lighted houses well below,
whose roads ran serpentine through mounding snow,
zoomed in on walls that formed each hollowed room,
then juxtaposed the gaiety and gloom.

While crumbs were sprinkled sparsely on the floor
to fatten the emaciated poor,
the great were filled, their bellies stuffed like hogs.
“I’m Nobody,” but loathe these “public frogs.”

We passed the citrine disc that sweeps the night,
our horseman veering blindly to the right.
The carriage caromed off the fields of faith,
where I, the passenger, and you, the wraith,

abruptly stopped to hear a clock that chimed,
the empty midnight notes of “Auld Lang Syne.”

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The Monarch’s Touch 

Her scepter raised in majesty, she dares
to rule this jeweled star Britannia though
dark eyes of former Kings and current heirs,
gaze down on her from portraits. Does she know

or even care what they may think? You see,
she rides a horse as well as any man,
then dons her crown and welcomes Dukes to tea,
while scrutinizing every battle plan.

Elizabeth! This gown of dignity
that flows, the river Thames reflects her grace;
her confidence. Behind doors privately,
she smiles back at the chamber mirror’s face,

then states in perfect English, as she should,
“Elizabeth the Second, you done good.”

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Frozen Mannequin 

The woods are painted white this winter’s eve.
A landscape portrait splashed with shards of ice.
I long to go; yet, find I cannot leave,
my thoughts of you alone have to suffice.

The cold and loneliness surround me here,
but winds that whisper yearn for me to stay.
My eyes, no more than wells of frozen tears,
completely empty problems of the day.

Yet, herein lies the great poetic sin!
The poet in me fails; no muse, no rhyme.
As words escape this frozen mannequin,
I find the woods a comfort in this time.

Soon evening Saints cast light upon the snow,
then genuflect imploring that I go.

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Tamara Beryl Latham is a retired Research and Development chemist who is originally from Brisbane, Australia, but currently resides in Virginia. Tamara was the Forum Moderator for Metric Poetry on the Moontown Cafe.com internet site. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, anthologies and literary reviews.