Licensed CC-BY-NC.
I place four fingers
to my breast beside my heart
Coltrane touches here
☯
In the room, though not
for a long time, the
kettle on to boil.
☯
He dies quietly
the clamor of before, stilled
one ring on his hand.
☯
Putting on Brubeck,
lying back waiting to die
one whole year passes
☯
These socks I have now
should last a good while; only
a handful of holes
☯
Two old men toe-to-toe
one snores, head tipped back, mouth open
one takes in the news.
☯
Kindergarten boy
waist-high to his mother’s hug
edge of the playfield.
☯
Electric fan drones
rain splatters the night outside
I find sleep in between
☯
I see seven miles
to the north, to the water
the Naval Station
☯
Deep-nosed exhale–sob,
I think; the parade-goers
take no notice
☯
I’ve tried all the things,
I’ve said, alcohol to Jah,
the sting still sits in
☯
Cord pulled tight over
storm windows on the truck’s side
the bus shambles south
☯
Boy in green jacket
testing his spring against the train
and happy to lose
☯
That sunshine glow spreads
as the northbound train pull in…
it’s only one light.
☯
Like anything else
I eventually stop
but not on this day
☯
He makes a peace sign
at the D Line pulling out
five orchids in hand
☯
She’s talking to God
or to something in the sky
keeping it civil.
☯
A balancing act
two fat crows on thin branches
watch Convention Place.
