Sunday, February 7, 2016

Violet

I sit down to write and end up
reading everyone else’s poems
about death, flowers and airborne dogs.
The wreath of birdseed I hung on the spruce
is gone, even the string that held it
although a circle of seed lies on the snow
in a pattern of bird and squirrel tracks.

Six blocks away a woman I know lies dying;
a violet in the snow.   Last night she did not
eat her ice cream.  Outside her window
a bird-feeder full, sits untouched.
I wonder if the birds who claimed
my wreath will migrate to where she lies
if their feathers like petals will moult into spring.

-Debbie Calverley

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Blind Willie

You know after death, you have to go by yourself.
                                      
 —Blind Willie Johnson

Left to Itself the Heart Continues to Pound at Its Chest - Jill Osier


Waking I still see you
working the thing of us
like a difficult thermos.
You turn it like even the idea
of hands is new. Strange.
Beautiful. Wondrous ape. 


JILL OSIER