away from the river
I dream sometimes
with eyes closed
waiting
for rain months delayed
listening
to the backyard dust
groan thirsty
Category Archives: Autumn
Autumn 2023, no. 19
(would if I could)
would if I could tell him, going back reading his poems
the absence of his active voice
makes the sun colder
on the river it’s just lovely
under a not-too-hot sun would if I could tell him
we should write about the waters where we are
using dueling metaphors
the days move on in the currents
some days go backwards we are laughing together
about the silly old men we knew we’d become
I’d tell him now how silly it all is would if I could
no quest worth questing begins on the grid
here’s what we do then:
find the woman with taut, erect eyes
ask her a question any question
doesn’t matter what since
the answer will be the same
they’re fishing us out from the above water
ducklings maybe swans maybe
the appropriate similie escapes
like halibut spies in a summer blockbuster
supposing then we go armed with an answer
viable enough true enough to pass 4am muster
let us then make here our pledge
and roll on, forgetting each other’s names, begin again