Distance – Page 47

White

freshly cut lilies
pure and white and beautiful
laid upon his chest
–
city streets-
a blanket
of fresh snow

in the evening sky-
the suggestion of darkness
from the crescent moon
–
new moon-
black before
the dark of night

shutting out the crowd
absolutely enthralled by
the shape of your words
–
rising moon-
night rolls over
the winter hills

ahead of the dawn
plodding bleary eyed into
an ashen twilight
–
flannel sheets-
coyotes barking
before the sunrise

putting down the phone
the harsh meaning of your words
doesn’t register
–
distant rain-
unexpected
lightning

asleep on the beach-
so far away from winter
and your icy touch
–
caribbean surf-
tracing lazy circles
on the small your back

southward flying geese
their long journey just begun
as mine is ending
–
warm boots-
my old dog’s
snowy muzzle

by her bedroom door
listening to my daughter
cry herself to sleep
–
leafless boughs-
no resistance to
the howling winds

echoing silence-
bodies strewn haphazardly
on the downtown streets
–
an absence of birds-
villagers gather fish
in the receding sea

you can take my heart
and do with it what you will
I’m finished with it
–
driftwood-
sand dunes
strewn by the wind