Welcome to the Isle of Khardas

A gallery of poetry that was written while barefoot.

In fact, most of my writing is done without shoes or socks (except in winter and then I bow down to the needs of poor circulation). I like the feel of the Earth under my feet. Our yard is very conducive to being barefoot. The deck is smooth and warm in the sunshine, the grass cool and soft. Even the driveway and road radiate comfort in the form of small rocks that make me flex all of the muscles — it’s my own personal massage! The house, too, is welcoming to my bare feet. Cushy carpeting, some nubby, some soft, cool vinyl. I love it. Now, to go find some warm olive oil and get my bare feet back to being pretty.

I’ve been asked what I read yesterday at the Arts Council of Louisville’s Festival. So, here it is. This poem was written last June while I was a member of the Kentucky Foundation for Women’s Artist in Residence Program. (Check these amazing folks out at http://www.kfw.org/ They are women on a mission to help women artists in Kentucky)

For one week, I and four other female artists lived at Hopscotch House and created in our various artistic media. It was an amazing experience and gave birth to this poem.

The Five Women

E. Napier, Copyright 2006

Women, beautiful women,
Five women in a little yellow house,
Women’s voices rise and fall
A cadence I do not know
Fills the air.

Support, love, understanding
Expressed in bird-like trills of speech
Startling the swallows in the barn
The martins on the fence
The finches in the branches.

A robin watches, consternation in a beady eye
At the parade of women
The flock of women
The over-sized birds that haunt his fields.

Women, beautiful women,
Five women in a little yellow house,
Women’s eyes glint and gleam
As darkness closes over the yellow house
Stars appear against the quiet sky
Scandalized by the shine of women’s eyes.

Secret jokes, confidences closely guarded,
Each eye twinkles, stealing something from the stars,
Laughter adds beauty and releases cares.
These star-bright women
Who exist in the shadowy night.

Women, beautiful women,
Five women in a little yellow house,
Women’s arms, so strong and soft
Gives thanks in the form of hugs
Quickly at first, the arms wrap around me
The love pours over me. I am safe.

Women, beautiful women,
Five women in a little yellow house,
With bird-like voices,
Star-bright eyes,
Strong, soft arms.

Women, beautiful women.