Poetry corner Charlotte poet distills meaning in life's everyday moments By Bill Diskin Sep 3, 2013 Sep 3, 2013 Updated Mar 19, 2019 0 1 of 2 “To me, a poet’s first job is to notice. Our second job is to convey,” says Charlotte poet Lisa Zerkle. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Chesson “Heart of the Light” is Zerkle’s first book of poems. Photo courtesy of Peter Olin Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Bill Diskin Waiting for a Boy to Jump Off a CliffkAmkDEC@?8m$96 s64:56D %9:D (:== q6 %96:C {2DE s2E6k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmp== 27E6C?@@? 96 AC6A2C6Dk^AmkAmE@ 36 DH6AE @77 9:D 766Ek^AmkAmD62C49:?8 7@C E96 >@>6?Ek^AmkAm96 4@F=5 ECFDE 2? F?D66? 7@C46k^Am kAmE@ 42CCJ 9:> 2H2Jk^AmkAmE96 962CE A@F?5:?8k^Am People are also reading… Mount Pleasant woman wins $1.9 million jackpot on first try at online lottery game Will North Carolina have a cold, snowy winter? Here's what NOAA predicts Cabarrus County receives $357K grant to preserve 88 acres of farmland Atrium Health, State Health Plan reach deal to keep hospitals in network for 2027 China Grove dance studio wins national honor at 2026 Industry Dance Awards NC joins federal lawsuit about deceptive pricing practices by Dollar General Feds seize 161 gallons of moonshine after explosion and fire in Wilkes County Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to host free Fall Fest and Candy Crawl on Oct. 29 Toilet paper, lumber and other necessities may cost more in NC. Here's why Who will be the next NC State football coach? Here are 12 candidates to replace Dave Doeren 3 customers burned after toxic chemical is mixed into margaritas at North Carolina Chili’s Rowan-Cabarrus Community College makes case for $60M bond to expand South Campus Concord mayor orders flags lowered to honor late Cabarrus County judge Grammy winner Linda Davis brings Nashville stories and songs to Concord's Davis Theatre Concord plants 577 trees at city facilities in 2026 as part of canopy expansion kAm:?DE2?Ek^AmkAm96 H@F=5 D@2Ck^AmkAmH6:89E=6DDk^AmkAm2:C3@C?6k^AmkAmq24< 7C@> E96 6586k^Am kAmD96 7=:4<D 2? 2?E @77 96C =68k^AmkAmH@?56CD :7 D96’== 92G6 E@ 9@=5k^Am kAm9:D 4CF>A=65 92?5k^Am kAm:? E96 2>3F=2?46k^AmkAm2?5 24E =:<6 D96 =@G6D 9:>k^AmkAm:7 96 4C2D96Dk^Am kAmu:?2==J 96 D66D 96Ck^AmkAm2?5 3=FDE6CDk^AmkAmE96 H:?5 :D?’E C:89Ek^AmkAmD@ E96J A24< :E FAk^AmkAmE2<:?8 2A2CE E96 8=:56Ck^Am kAmA:646 3J A:646k^AmkAmH@C<:?8 E@86E96Ck^Am kAmE@ =62G6 E96 AC64:A:46k^AmkAm369:?5 E96>k^AmkAm\3J {:D2 +6C<=6k^AmkAm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\k^AmkAm{:D2 +6C<=6 :D 5@:?8 96C A2CE E@ <66A A@6ECJ 2=:G6 :? E96 r92C=@EE6 C68:@?]k^Am kAmt2C=:6C E9:D J62C[ +6C<=6 96=A65 C6DFCC64E “z2<2=2<[” 2? @?=:?6 A@6ECJ ;@FC?2= AF3=:D965 2?5 65:E65 3J 2 D>2== 8C@FA @7 r92C=@EE6\32D65 HC:E6CD] %9:D DF>>6C[ D96 AF3=:D965 96C 7:CDE 492A3@@< @7 A@6>D[ “w62CE @7 E96 {:89E]”k^Am kAm!F3=:D965 3J %96 u:?:D9:?8 {:?6 !C6DD[ “w62CE @7 E96 {:89E” @776CD C6256CD 2 8=:>AD6 @7 9@H +6C<=6 42==D @? A@6ECJ E@ 4@??64E 2?5 6?8286 H:E9 E96 H@C=5 2C@F?5 96C]k^AmkAm“%@ >6[ 2 A@6E’D 7:CDE ;@3 :D E@ ?@E:46[” +6C<=6 D2:5] “~FC D64@?5 ;@3 :D E@ 4@?G6J] p ;@FC?2=:DE D66<D E@ 36 @3;64E:G6[ H9:=6 2 A@6E D66<D E96 @AA@D:E6] x H2?E D@>6@?6 H9@ C625D >J H@C< E@ C64@8?:K6 A2CE @7 E96:C 6>@E:@?2= D6=G6D] x H2?E E96> E@ E9:?<[ J6D[ E92E’D 6I24E=J 9@H E92E 766=D]”k^AmkAm#625:?8 E9C@F89 +6C<=6’D A@6>D[ :?4=F5:?8 “(2:E:?8 7@C 2 q@J E@ yF>A ~77 2 r=:77 $96 s64:56D %9:D (:== q6 %96:C {2DE s2E6[” :E 5@6D?’E E2<6 =@?8 E@ ?@E:46 96C E2=6?E 7@C 7:?5:?8 >62?:?8 E92E :D D@ @7E6? EF4<65 BF:6E=J :?E@ =:76’D @C5:?2CJ >@>6?ED]k^Am kAm“x’> 7@C 2?JE9:?8 E92E :?4C62D6D E96 =6G6= @7 6>A2E9J :? E96 H@C=5[” +6C<=6 D2:5] “pE :ED 36DE[ A@6ECJ 96=AD 2CE:4F=2E6 H92E :E >62?D E@ 36 9F>2?] (96? J@F C625 2 A@6> J@F 86E 2 76=E 6IA6C:6?46] !@6ECJ :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 2AAC@AC:2E6 2E E:>6D @7 46=63C2E:@? 2?5 8C:67[ 3FE D@>6 @7 >J 72G@C:E6 A@6>D 2C6 @?6D E92E 56D4C:36 2? 6G6CJ52J 92AA6?:?8]”k^AmkAm+6C<=6 92D 366? 56D4C:3:?8 6G6CJ52J 92AA6?:?8D E9C@F89 A@6ECJ 7@C >2?J J62CD] $96 EC246D 96C :?E6C6DE :? A@6E:4 6IAC6DD:@? 324< E@ 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=] “|J 7@FCE9\8C256 E62496C[ |CD] (@@5H2C5[ 925 @FC 4=2DD 8@ E9C@F89 {6H:D r2CC@==’D “y2336CH@4<J” =:?6 3J =:?6[” +6C<=6 C642==65] “$96 4@>A:=65 H92E H6 E9@F89E E96 A@6> >62?E] ~FC 4=2DD A6C7@C>65 E9:D :?E6CAC6E2E:@? 2D 2 A=2J[ 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 DEF56?E\>256 4@DEF>6D[ 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96 D49@@= Wx H2D E96 7CF>:@FD q2?56CD?2E49X] xE H2D 2 4@>A6==:?8 :==FDEC2E:@? @7 E96 A@H6C @7 :>28:?2E:@? 2?5 H@C5D] x DE:== =@G6 E92E A@6>]”k^Am kAmq6J@?5 {6H:D r2CC@==[ +6C<=6 6?;@JD C625:?8 E96 H@C< @7 2 G2C:6EJ @7 A@6ED] “x’G6 DEF5:65 \\ 2?5 =@G6 \\ ?@H\56462D65 A@6ED =:<6 t=:K236E9 q:D9@A 2?5 y2>6D (C:89E[” +6C<=6 D2:5] “qFE 52J\E@\52J[ x AC676C E@ C625 4@?E6>A@C2CJ A@6ED =:<6 t==6? q2DD[ $92C@? ~=5D[ |2C:6 w@H6[ z2J #J2?[ p]t] $E2==:?8D[ q:==J r@==:?D[ (]$] |6CH:?[ {F4:2 !6CC:==@ 2?5 $2C29 {:?5D2J W“%H:8D 2?5 z?F4<=63@?6D” :D 2 72G@C:E6X[ 2>@?8 @E96CD]”k^AmkAm(9:=6 D@>6 @7 E96 A@6ED @? +6C<=6’D =:DE @7 72G@C:E6D >:89E 6?;@J C6=2E:G6 72>6 2>@?8 HC:E6CD 2?5 t?8=:D9 >2;@CD[ >@DE @7 E96 A@6ED D96 >6?E:@?D 42? 92C5=J 36 4@?D:56C65 9@FD69@=5 ?2>6D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] $E:==[ =:<6 >2?J HC:E6CD[ +6C<=6 :D 6I4:E65 3J E96 H@C< @7 @FC 4@?E6>A@C2CJ A@6ED] $96 6?4@FC286D A6@A=6 D96 6?4@F?E6CD E@ E2A :?E@ E96 A@H6C @7 A@6ECJ]k^Am kAm“x 7:?5 :?E6==64EF2= 2?5 4C62E:G6 7F=7:==>6?E :? A@6ECJ[ E96 H2J x :>28:?6 @E96CD 5@ 7C@> >FD:4 @C 2CE[” +6C<=6 D2:5] “%96C6 2C6 @E96CD @FE E96C6 … H9@ A6C92AD 92G6?’E 7@F?5 E96:C H2J E@ A@6ECJ ;FDE J6E] (96? E96J 5@[ x H2?E E96> E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 C:49[ G:3C2?E 6IA2?D:@? @7 E96 H@C=5 E92E x 5:5]”k^AmkAm+6C<=6 ?@FC:D96D 96C =@G6 @7 A@6ECJ E9C@F89 96C 4@??64E:@?D 2 ?F>36C @7 =@42= HC:E6CD] “(6 2C6 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 2? 24E:G6[ 565:42E65 8C@FA @7 A@6ED :? @FC 2C62[” D96 D2:5] “x’G6 7@F?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ DFAA@CE:G6[ H6=4@>:?8 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2=] (C:E:?8 A@6ECJ :? 2 32?<:?8 E@H? 42? D66> D@>6H92E 2C42?6] xE 96=AD E@ 7:?5 J@FC A6@A=6]”k^Am kAmu@C =@42= HC:E6CD DE:== =@@<:?8 7@C E96:C A6@A=6[ +6C<=6 @776CD 2 =:DE @7 ?6EH@C<:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D] “!2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? 2 HC:E:?8 8C@FA @C 4=2DD H96C6 J@F C646:G6 9@?6DE[ 3FE DA64:7:4[ 4@?DECF4E:G6 25G:46[ :D :?G2=F23=6] %96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 !@6ECJ $@4:6EJ[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 (C:E6C’D }6EH@C< 2?5 r92C=@EE6 (C:E6CD’ r=F3 2C6 2== 6I46==6?E C6D@FC46D 7@C A6@A=6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4@??64E E@ @E96C HC:E6CD]”k^Am kAmp?5 7@C 7@=<D ?@E BF:E6 C625J E@ ;F>A :?E@ 2 HC:E6C’D 8C@FA[ r92C=@EE6 92D A=6?EJ @7 C6D@FC46D 7@C C6256CD] “!2C< #@25 q@@<D 92D 366? 2 DE62572DE DFAA@CE6C @7 =@42= A@6ED[” +6C<=6 D2:5] “p?5 “|2:? $EC66E #28” 2?5 “x@5:?6” 2C6 EH@ H6==\C682C565 =:E6C2CJ ;@FC?2=D 32D65 @FE @7 r92C=@EE6]”k^Am kAmx7 +6C<=6 4@F=5 492?86 @?6 E9:?8 23@FE E96 =:E6C2CJ D46?6 :? E96 "F66? r:EJ[ D96’5 =:<6 E@ D66 >@C6 5:G6CD:EJ 2E =@42= A@6ECJ G6?F6D] “|J @?6 3667 \\ 2?5 :E’D 2 3:8 @?6i %96 2F5:6?46 7@C A@6ECJ C625:?8D 2?5 6G6?ED E6?5D E@ 36 @E96C HC:E6CD] xE H:== 36 2 8@@5 52J H96? E96 AF3=:4\2E\=2C86 D9@HD C@3FDE DFAA@CE 7@C =:E6C2CJ 6G6?ED]”k^AmkAm~G6C E96 J62CD[ +6C<=6 92D =62C?65 E92E 7:?5:?8 E:>6 E@ HC:E6 :D @7E6? 2 HC:E6C’D 8C62E6DE @3DE24=6] $96 24<?@H=6586D E92E[ 8:G6? @FC 3FDJ D4965F=6D[ E96C6 :D ?@ A6C764E E:>6 E@ HC:E6] “x 92G6 E9C66 E66?286CD H9@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? >2?J 24E:G:E:6D[” D96 D2JD] “x <66A 2 A@CE23=6 ‘A@6ECJ 328’ H:E9 5C27ED[ C6G:D:@?D 2?5 324<8C@F?5 >2E6C:2= C625J E@ 8@ 2E 2== E:>6D]”k^Am kAmu@CEF?2E6=J[ +6C<=6 5@6D?’E >:?5 HC:E:?8 @? E96 CF?] “x’G6 HC:EE6? A@6>D 2E E96 <2C2E6 DEF5:@[ E96 C@4<\4=:>3:?8 8J>[ :? E96 =:3C2CJ[ E96 @:=\492?86 82C286[” +6C<=6 D2JD] “x’G6 =62C?65 E@ 42CCJ 2 D>2== ?@E63@@< H:E9 >6 6G6CJH96C6] x7 2 A9C2D6 @44FCD E@ >6 H9:=6 x’> H2=<:?8 @C 5C:G:?8[ x’== =@D6 :E :7 x 5@?’E HC:E6 :E 5@H?]”k^Am kAmxC@?:42==J[ E96 D66>:?8=J ?@?\DE@A A246 @7 >@56C? =:76 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ H92E >2<6D A@6ECJ D@ A@H6C7F=]k^AmkAm“x? @FC 6G6C\3FD:6C H@C=5[ A@6ECJ 92D E96 25G2?E286 @7 36:?8 4@?4:D6]” +6C<=6 D2JD] pD #:E2 s@G6 D2JD[ ‘!@6ECJ :D =2?8F286 2E :ED >@DE 5:DE:==65 2?5 >@DE A@H6C7F= ]]] =:<6 2 3@F:==@? 4F36i *@F 42CCJ :E 2C@F?5 2?5 E96? :E ?@FC:D96D J@F H96? J@F ?665 :E]’ *@F 42?’E C625 2 ?@G6= :? @?6 D:EE:?8[ 3FE 2 A@6> 42? EC2?DA@CE J@F @C >2<6 J@F =2F89 @C 4CJ[ @7E6? :? @?=J @?6 A286]”k^Am kAmk6>mq:== s:D<:? :D 5:C64E@C @7 25>:DD:@? 2?5 7:?2?4:2= 2:5 2E r2??@? $49@@= :? r@?4@C5] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQH5:D<:?o42??@?D49@@=]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH5:D<:?o42??@?D49@@=]@C8k^2m] u@==@H 9:D EH66ED o3:==5:D<:?]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Mount Pleasant woman wins $1.9 million jackpot on first try at online lottery game The odds were 1 in 150 million. A Mount Pleasant woman beat them on her first try at a digital lottery game. Cabarrus County receives $357K grant to preserve 88 acres of farmland More than 88 acres of Cabarrus County farmland could be protected from development thanks to a $357,851 state grant. Here's how the preservati… Atrium Health, State Health Plan reach deal to keep hospitals in network for 2027 After months of contentious negotiations, Atrium Health and the State Health Plan have reached a deal on coverage for 2027. Here's what changes. China Grove dance studio wins national honor at 2026 Industry Dance Awards Eleven dancers from across the region helped bring home a prestigious national honor for China Grove's Center Stage Dance Company. NC joins federal lawsuit about deceptive pricing practices by Dollar General “Dollar General has betrayed the trust of millions of American consumers and imposed significant financial harm on communities and consumers."
Mount Pleasant woman wins $1.9 million jackpot on first try at online lottery game The odds were 1 in 150 million. A Mount Pleasant woman beat them on her first try at a digital lottery game.
Cabarrus County receives $357K grant to preserve 88 acres of farmland More than 88 acres of Cabarrus County farmland could be protected from development thanks to a $357,851 state grant. Here's how the preservati…
Atrium Health, State Health Plan reach deal to keep hospitals in network for 2027 After months of contentious negotiations, Atrium Health and the State Health Plan have reached a deal on coverage for 2027. Here's what changes.
China Grove dance studio wins national honor at 2026 Industry Dance Awards Eleven dancers from across the region helped bring home a prestigious national honor for China Grove's Center Stage Dance Company.
NC joins federal lawsuit about deceptive pricing practices by Dollar General “Dollar General has betrayed the trust of millions of American consumers and imposed significant financial harm on communities and consumers."
