Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Aftereffects

Aftereffects (In Ozark, Alabama))A Poem))

I think by now it is time for us to move on from here.

I can see the shanty huts, the ones along side the
Cemetery, dilapidated they are, in need of restoration

long overdue. The garbage has filled the air
above our small rented house, and the grass against the

fence can’t hide the cemetery or the garbage.
I’ve walked through that section, when we first came here,

over the gravestones through the tall grass, —twilight itself
shinned on my porch, the neighbor flirted with me from her’s .

I just pretended not to notice and stood outside, smiled.
I saw her move about. She reminded me of me —

when I was single and younger, long ago —
as she moved on, and away from the porch

from the screened-in door with reflections from the moon.
I confess that my insides were dropping, cramping

I kept a pretense. In it, I became different and nervous, not
wanting to crossover to her, shameful she came to me

from her mouth these words came (echoes throughout me)
“You see, my husband wants me to lay with you, and watch?”

that came from her so easier, opening a wishful door,
but I didn’t want a scar, or wound, or being numb; it would

had been the beginning, the second time —closer to the end.

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