Distance – Page 11

sputtering neon-
piles of rags weakly lit by
the staccato glow
–
november night-
threadbare blankets
in the doorway

softly falling rain-
I finally let you go
for your sake and mine
–
glass in his hair-
a husband waits
in anguished silence

hourglass summer-
memories of time we spent
slip through my fingers
–
driftwood-
a gull’s shadow
passes by

black ink on paper-
oblivious passengers
riding the subway
–
a soft gong-
the model changes
position again

an incoming storm-
thunderclouds vent their anger
on an iron sea
–
hard driving rain-
waves break against
barnacled pilings

silvery fingers-
the moon I plucked from the sky
safe in my pocket
–
crescent moon-
silver fish swim
among the stars

I’m holding my breath-
when I hit bottom I know
you’ll help me exhale
–
ripples of light-
the water’s surface
far above

wild racing thoughts-
my fix is the sleep I so
desperately crave
–
an open window-
coyotes call out
in the rising dawn

staring at the clock
waiting an eternity
for the time to change
–
my mind’s ear-
wide awake
in the dark

a postulant soul
emerges from the shadows
selling fools false light
–
silver tongues-
gilded lies and
tainted truths