Harnessing The Madness
Don’t worry Hush, little mama
Dry your acrid, bittersweet, woeful tears
Don’t you cry, pretty mama
Your darling, happy, freckle-face baby is struggling, fevered, and
deliriously HOT
Oh, okay, go on then
Go ahead and cry, little mama
Cry those real, big-old-salty tears
Enough to fill an ocean
Squash the fire under mountains of regret, and molten lava erupting
Don’t worry, hush lullaby mama
Your baby girl is a strong, solid swimmer
You taught her that
You and her, submersed
Her JOY full love of water
Bouncy, giggly, freedom submerged while cemented together hand in
hand
She was fearless in your arms
Unafraid of stormy seas, tsunamis and heavenly floods
Little girl’s flapping her arms now, mama
Crazed, and kicking hard to swim to the top
Oh hush now, pretty mama,
don’t worry your fraught, exhausted mind or fret
Water trumps fire, and this girl
Your darling baby
She
Is
Harnessing the madness
Submersed, safe and sound in the Marianas Trench
Her screaming, gurgling lungs breathe better
In utero
Go on now, mama, gather your salty tear filled buckets and buckets and buckets
Pour them right over her head
Fire burns out, smoldering wet
The melody is haunting and heartbeat sweet, familiar
And sigh so lovely, lovely, lovely
Your baby feels all the feels, smells in color and vibrates clickety-clack
sounds underwater
Hush, now child, don’t you cry, too
Together in tandem
Your mama is there, she’s right there
Feet firmly rooted by rocks, wood and earth on solid ground
Smiling down
Harnessing the madness with her bleeding, thumping, overflowing
bursting heart
In two-time rhythm
Same heart, hers and yours
Keeping time together
She tosses a life jacket attached to an unbreakable umbilical cord, made
from solid oak, and knotty pine twine
The rope plays shadow games on the surface, as the water sways to
and fro
Under the prettiest, blinding white sunlight
Bubbles of air and H2O
Oxygen
Hush now, mama, keep pouring those frozen buckets of ice-cold-doubt
Over your girl’s scorching, sizzling brain on fire head
Hush mama, your little dolly is just a girl, and not a funny fish
She’s going to be A-OK, alright?
Hush mama, her head’s on fire, and lungs are all wet
But, she’s paddling hard and fast towards the surface
Flailing and searching for your firm grip, and steady resolve
Inside her shaky, trembling fingers
Oh, sweet heartbeat
The birds chip, and an indigo blue, clear sky, sunshine lights up the dark,
murky, clouded depths
Blue is the loveliest color
Pretty, strong, and powerful
Little mama is calling her name
Right there, oh, there she is
Mama’s shadow, bounce-back light and love reflection
Makes circle formations, bubble distress calls, and H2O air
Oxygen
Right above the surface,
Mama stands tall, barefoot on the green grass
Beside her baby girl, all along
Mama, your dolphin lung baby is gasping for air underwater, squashing the flames, and surrendering
Floating freely, buoyant, as the salt tides push her to the surface, and the scorching sun’s beautiful, intoxicating light feels warm and inviting
She sees her mama’s pretty face for the first time, smiling and kind
Aged
Bound forever by love, and heaven on earth
Little girl remembers, hope floats
Her one and only, mama’s fierce motherly love waits, prays and watches
Her all-grown-up girl
The gyspy, free-flying, Mustang wild spirit, good, mad woman
Grow roots, and quiet her wings
Thank you, dear mama
Yours, and only yours
L.o.V.e.
Anchors the soul
©Jacqueline Cioffa
Jacqueline Cioffa was an international model for 17 years and a celebrity makeup artist. She is a dog lover, crystal collector and stone crab enthusiast. Her work has been featured in the anthology, Brainstorms, and numerous literary magazines. Living with manic depression, Jacqueline is an advocate for mental health awareness.
She’s a storyteller, observer, essayist, potty mouth and film lover who’s traveled the world. Her poignant, literary fiction debut, The Vast Landscape, gives new meaning to intense, raw and heartfelt. Fans of the emotional, soul stirring first novel will not be able to put the exciting sequel, Georgia Pine, down.
Look for Jackie’s stunning column, Bleeding Ink on Feminine Collective.
Connect with Jackie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Jacqueline Cioffa on IG, and at Jacqueline Cioffa.
Stunningly beautiful – Thanks – reblogging
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Robert from the heart. Mine, and my mama’s.
Hope you are well.
X Jackie
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Blue is the loveliest color.” Jackie, this is beautiful. Your ethereal words always transmit beauty and peacefulness. But you can also feel the struggle and pain in finding your way out darkness. Thank you Nicole for sharing, I’m looking forward for more poetry from my favorite warriors. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Stephanie Ortez for your lovely, and thoughtful comment. There is no better home for this piece than The Lithium Chronicles , and Nicole Lyons. I’m honoured as always to be here with so many eclectic and raw talents, including you.
“Blue is the Loveliest Color,” is a chapter heading from GEORGIA PINE, one of my favorite lines, and ‘in utero’ is the beginning chapter from THE VAST LANDSCAPE, which you know is dedicated ‘To My Mother,’ my anchor, lifeline, and very favorite human. I’m grateful for her love, and resilience every single day. PS She calls herself the “queen of the Assholes,’ and trust me she wears the title proud.
love you, be well always…
LikeLiked by 2 people
You two ladies mean so much to me.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
A wondrous poem from Jacqueline Cioffa
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Robert for sharing ‘Harnessing the Madness,’
and your amazing, soulful, and thoughtful support.
X Jackie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Nicole,
Thank you, for the grand honour to be on The Lithium Chronicles once again with ‘Harnassing the Madness.’ This piece is as close to how I feel in my heart about my mother, and our journey together through the battle that is Mental Illness. She is my warrior, as are you dear friend…Thank you for throwing me a life raft, and your support of my writing, and me. It means the world.
You are a treasure and a sparkling, strong quartz, and fire red powerful, Bloodstone gem. Trust me, the pleasure is all mine. I am enjoying watching your soar with your writing as well as saving so many with your advocacy.
From my Bleeding Ink heart to yours, always
Jackie
LikeLike
Ha, and of course I spelled Harnessing wrong. That would be the writing gods telling me to slow down… XX 🙂
LikeLike