Rooftop Poetry Club - Deirdre Cotter

Deirdre Cotter

Bio:
A graduate of S.U.N.Y. Brockport in Art History, Deirdre has lived and worked in Italy as an interpreter, translator, European Union program translator in the Republic of San Marino, director of a certified federal equestrian center and instructor, and consultant for RAI (Italian Radio/Television).

Her return to Buffalo in 1995 as a single mother of two children began as an Italian interpreter/translator and Language Coordinator for the International Institute of Buffalo. Other jobs, other children, and another husband were to follow.

Her poetry was never written to be read by anyone. It was and remains, a quasi-involuntary impulse during introspective (stressful) times. She has never been published.

I do not consider myself a poet nor writer. I am, however. a coward. The stuff I wrote is very soul-bearing and private. I do appreciate Rooftop for taking me in, and welcome any suggestions.

Poems:

The Palm of My Soul

when you are gone
my gaze takes me far from here
from these silent rooms and quiet tears
to a secret place
a cradle deep
to the palm of my soul
where I keep your face
like a flower you shine
and light the way for me to find
you
when I sleep
to rock you gently in my arms
where nothing can harm you
a lullaby for you to keep
in this sacred and far away place
and when the day comes knocking at my door
I will rise up slowly once more
the sun is tired, hanging dim and low to
winters song so slow
hollow rooms
weigh heavy on me
and silence screams and echoes in dreams
and bit by bit back
I go
to that secret place
to the palm of my soul

Lighthouse

Pick it up
Put it to your ear
The song
Among fossils and wind
In wading tides
Sun to quicksilver
Reeds to blue and white
Sensual heat plays
Like a child
Embrace so true
Releases and returns
To you

Alchemy of Sorrow

Did it matter
Really?
Not that
It did
That without
There is only you
In a room
A universe of
Lightless space
Enough for solitude
To expand
Inside a mystery
Vast and airy
Petrified and solid
You are hollow and stone
Alchemy of sorrow