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 Piercing


 evening sun, fog is cooling, tempering august intensity

delicate fragrance of quince seeps under skin

gently… subtly… slowly… kindly

just like that

 

a woman’s voice on the radio

sharply defensive, anxious, fast, with urgency

interviewer quickly tries to puncture her

he a fervent sledge hammer

just like that

 

we perceive perfectly polarized propaganda

piercing us from all sides, I am right

you are wrong, it works

just like that

 

tempering our mood is a delicate

affair, requires skill, patience – long view

lowers the heat, no quelching but

steadily relieving tension

radical like that

 

really? releasing? letting go? when really, we need

need need need need need all that speed

might not otherwise all collapse?

like that

 

messages of quince bring me

back to earth, hands picking yellow fruit

crawling into gnarly tree, imperfect

shapes, beholden & beholding

just as is

 

fingers on velvet fuzz, sensing golden goodness, intuiting

gracious secrets nestling in her seeds – allowing

essence to caress, permeate, and heal me

piercing just like that

 

as is

we are cornered

pushed to the edge

let’s be pierced

by beauty

 

just like that

new-born

revived

 

as is


Karina Epperlein, Berkeley, August 2026




Comments

Karina said…
My brother Matthias in Germany writes:

Oh yes, from the heart, how important is this Strength of Resisting and Being Resurrected (rising from the ashes) – if I understand this right….

Oh ja, aus dem Herzen heraus, wie wichtig diese Kraft des Widerstehens und Auferstehens, wenn ich das richtig verstehen…
August 15, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Karina said…
Yes, Matthias :) you are getting the core of the poem despite the language barrier – amazing :)
August 15, 2026 at 9:24 PM
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