Poems by Carol Leff

Carol Leff

Mountain Fires

sliver of a silver moon in grey-blue fading
through dry branches of birches bare
i see Qabimbola aflame
bright orange tongues leaping
off the parched and crackling.

the fire-eat-you-whole
fascinates and frightens
exasperates and excites
like life (transmuting, regenerating)
safe from a distance
like you (burning through my dreams)
dangerous up close.

sliver of a sunrise in pink-yellow growing
through dewy branches of birches burnt
i watch Qabimbola smoulder
sighing softly silent
in the afterglow.

__________
Previously published in
New Coin

Forgive and Forget

"Truce?" he asked
when he got home tonight
offering bright tulips
against the fading light.

Arms outstretched,
he took in my smile.
Forgiven, forgotten,
we hugged for a while.

__________
Previously published in
Tyume journal of Creative Writing

Carol Leff was born in Kempton Park (Jhb) in 1959. She spent her early childhood in Groot Marico, was schooled in England and Brazil, and went on to learn about life in Yeoville. She has had poetry and short stories published in New Coin, Tyume and COSAW's anthology, Like a House on Fire. Carol home-schooled her two daughters for several years, and now earns a living as a complementary health therapist on South Africa's Sunshine Coast.