Verdad Magazine Volume 5
Fall 2008, Volume 5
Poetry by Megan M. Doherty
Noon at Summerland Beach
she stumbles
twice thus far
damned sandals
on the tracks slick rail ties
between her toes pebbles
scrape
should have planned ahead damn, damn
the queen's english
everything
eludes her
children, marriage, house
gone
looks acidulously for the spot
get the thing done right in an instant
and
her figure too
shot to hell
is far enough
from l.a. near santa barbara
a good choice that, but
tennis shoes would have helped
in any event, soon
she'll find the site
will trust her intuition
knows men do it macho, a gun
from a bridge, a tall building
a single bound, so to speak
during the '60s
in the hollywood hills studio
while washing up
the lights flickered
a total blackout
lasted over an hour
came to find out
some guy jumped
from the holiday inn roof
nothing thought out
royally stupid
hit the electric wire
on his way down
severed off a leg
and spoiled her dinner
women usually are smarter
they go out easier
mostly pills sensible
when her avion gives out
she's certain
walks to the cliff's edge
overlooking the sands
this is it
the place
stands forever it seems
the ocean's roar
muffles her objections
now for the courage
a final action, just one
time passes
she thinks of him
if only
if only...
her eye registers movement
far below
a small figure a man
a wheelchair
struggles
inching across the rough beach
she watches transfixed
he does not stop to rest
disappears eventually
beyond the bend
of the coastal plane
what on earth!
she climbs down
can't believe she's doing this
to the sands
follows his path
around the bend
an alcove another beach
hundreds of nudists
kids and all
playing volleyball
a picnic
welcome her warmly
saw the crippled man now
nude as a babe
she feels odd to be clothed
amidst so much flesh
stepped into a vortex
is offered a lemonade
a towel
then she sees the golden man
spread eagle on a chair
tanned genitals lovely
smiling openly
beckoning
to her
BIO: Megan Doherty, a peace activist, has been published by the California Quarterly. She attends poetry groups and has recently completed two books of poetry which are, as yet, unpublished. As a member of Tebot Bach's Poetry and Healing Committee, she brings creative writing workshops to homeless shelters in Southern California.