The deception
you carry
on your chest
like an accessory
has grown and developed
to create new life on its own.
The sudden freedom
makes you think
you have won for a time,
as you walk back
to your humble starting point,
weaving a tale with no end in sight.
Cristine A. Gruber has had work featured in “North American Review,” “Writer’s Digest,” “Writers’ Journal,” “The Endicott Review,” “The Penwood Review,” “Thema,” and “Westward Quarterly.” She has been a featured poet in Writer’s Digest for National Poetry Month. Cristine studied Literature, Philosophy, and World Religions at California Baptist University in Riverside, California. She is a member of The California State Poetry Society and The Poetry Society of America. Her first full-length collection of poetry, “Lifeline,” was released by Infinity Publishing and is available from Amazon.com. Cristine loves great pasta and fine wine, long walks, and good books. She continues to reside in Southern California and has two grown children.