The chilled air stretched
cautiously under his wife.
One by one, shades
Pass boldly, full glory
of passion wither
locked heart lover’s
eyes. Generous tears:
such a feeling thickly
partial, young, standing
under a dripping tree.
Other forms were near.
His soul where dwell
the vast hosts of the dead,
wayward and flickering
out into impalpable dissolving.
Light taps upon the pane:
sleepily the flakes, silver
oblique against time.
Yes, snow on every
part: plain, hills, westward,
mutinous waves falling
upon the lonely, the crooked
the spears, the barren swooned
falling faintly and faintly falling,
like the descent
of their last upon
all the living.

5 comments
Gary says:
Dec 25, 2008
Good lord, why are you apologizing for this? It’s beautiful!
John W. MacDonald says:
Dec 25, 2008
nice. who’s it after? excuse my poetic ignorance…
Lemon Hound says:
Dec 25, 2008
It’s no fun if I tell, John.
Thanks Gary.
Happy Christmas all,
Brenda Schmidt says:
Dec 26, 2008
Nice!
elena says:
Jan 2, 2009
James Joyce… The Dead…the last lines are unmistakable.
Really wonderful piece though. Thank you for this.
elena basile