By: Marianne Lyon
Praise wild passion
fiery longings raging songs unsung
free lurking hesitation curious compulsion
ignite the set-aside not-yet-concrete
Laud shamans magical spells
generals who inspire peace
priests who rouse devotion
children who believe they can fly
Applaud wild fever
that nudges us to rush to zesty gold mine
praise things we’ve always said we’d do
indulgences we never thought we would
Here’s to making dithering useless
here’s to kindling that which makes no sense
that which doesn’t rhyme fit the meter
what we cast threw away
Say no to parameters that suffocate
fear not dissonance consonance will resound
ecstatically resuscitate your arduous beacon
enter locked secret room of vibrancy
Congratulate passionate sun within your heart
it maybe love lust rage determination
envy heartache exhaustion joy
allow it to burn its way out
Marianne Lyon has been a music teacher for 43 years. After teaching in Hong Kong she returned to the Napa Valley and has been published in various literary magazines and reviews. Nominated for the Pushcart Award 2016. She has spent time teaching in Nicaragua. She is a member of the California Writers Club, Solstice Writers in St. Helena California. She is an Adjunct Professor at Touro University Vallejo California. She was awarded the Napa Country Poet Laureate 2021 title.