Vasile & LUSMERLIN – February 2025

LUSMERLIN and Andrea Vasile traded art and words. LUSMERLIN shared this untitled image with Andrea:

In response, Andrea wrote this poem:

Intertwined

I.

It’s a promise,
    a hope,
the wind caressing 
    the forest’s spring greenery,
telling secrets 
to the jabbering stream.
    Shhh quiet.
    Don’t worry.
The birds’ constant gibberish
hides the giggles 
    of lovers
playfully wanting
    to be found.

II.

Your hair flows over me
covers my head, my ears,
snakes over my shoulders,
down the nape of my back.
Tentacles reaching, gripping,
suctioning around my thighs,
pulling me harder towards you.
Legs twist and ankles bind,
closer and heavier,
heat, melting, sweat.
Pushing against your chest,
my arms pour into you
embracing your throat,
feeling your sounds,
pumping your heart,
beating faster with mine.
Gasping your breath,
no longer my own.
Surrender

III.

Serenity
shapes our souls 
harmonizing dreams 
into one
eternally shared

* * * * *

Andrea shared this poem with LUSMERLIN:

Ghost Dance

Deep in the woods
in the valley where the leaves have crisped the path
adorning garments of the past
she begins the ritual dance alone

She dances to awaken their voices

Searching through her spinning
the wails of women lost
choke through the red signal smoke

              And cry
Help us

Following the frozen river way
she reaches for the ripped shrouds
of the aunts and sisters missing
the cold air clinging to the ghosts of passers through

She dances to alert their souls

Desperation through her spinning
The wails of women still lost 
Fade over the red signal smoke

           And beg
Find us

Reaching the summit
on the rock overlooking their once peaceful land
she holds tight to the necklaces and beads 
of ancestors, grandmothers, mothers
never to be reunited

She commences her dance and will continue
her spinning and twirling in their honour

She dances to remember

The dissipating signal smoke 
Still carries   
The wails of women lost
Forever

         And pray
        Do not forget us

In response, LUSMERLIN made this image, titled “Intuism 036 (Overlooking the once peaceful land)”: