Poem: Portland

               Portland 

  I am finally going West
raised in Westerly
now leaving the East 
  a pilgrimage to Portland in search of golden elixir
I rise up at 4 a.m. the day dark the room cold
and see wrinkles on my fair skin caught 
in the soft light of the elegant shower
  ineluctable thick glass encasing me, claw foot bathtub
waiting in silence 
as I let the steaming water
caress me eyes closed as I go 
elsewhere the purple scented shampoo says
‘age defying’ and I am transported 
to college days Elysian fields of green
the silent peaceful gaze of young women
golden Calypsos
the plane now rocking my body gently, lulling me
the horizon visible ahead 
a diffuse pink that merges, suffuses gradients of 
light blue clouds on the earth’s rim
calling to me 
a siren’s call as I unleash myself 
from my seat 
gazing
forward.
                       February, 2016
                       Glenn Feole

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