Plain and Simple – a poem by M.J. Iuppa

Plain and Simple

Standing on our weather-beaten porch, I
close my eyes, for just a minute, before

I take another step that will set me in a direction
that’s plain and simple, going forward until I

find myself back here in this very spot, stopping
in this velvet dark & autumn chill to listen

to the sound of scattering leaves that is
the sound of hands clapping, clapping for

my close calls, for my death-defying
escapes—for me— still here.

M.J. Iuppa ‘s fourth poetry collection is This Thirst (Kelsay Books, 2017). For the past  29 years, she has lived on a small farm near the shores of Lake Ontario. Check out her blog: mjiuppa.blogspot.com for her musings on writing, sustainability & life’s stew.