Michael Brownstein
from
SECOND APART
One thing is certa in
hav ing gazed far away into th e di stance
it is th e image in the mind tha t binds u s
fillin g her pockets with unri pe wa lnuts
her h ead over the vani shed children
where the reeds grow
and the medl a r, rudd y and tough
th e snake tha t swims across the pool
its littl e chin just rufflin g th e wa ter
ru sh ca rpets spread over the cold red til es
shining links of a fin e-wrought cha in
belonged to me person a ll y
so stiff with stage fri ght
studded with turquo ise
framed in th e pill ars of a vast
th e ritua l of cutting the ca ke
defl a ting the nouga t bastion
th a t p u rs ued the sn akes and li zards so vigorously
but soften s and yields to autumn
cherry trees q u iverin g in th e red November dawn
couple li ving toge th er in the country
bi ds the sn ail put out its ho rns
though man y years h ave passed
and seemed to me sump tuo us
sugary grapes and h a rd ye ll ow peach es
whose hearts were a deep , blood-sta ined purp le
