By: Janet Buck

State: Oregon

Country: USA

Under All Those Thunderheads

I light a candle at my desk,
searching proper mourning words.
They all escape my sandpaper tongue
grinding at relentless grief.
You were loved by many women,
smitten by your teasing eyes,
and tender ways with blooming flowers.
Florence held you like a son.
If she were here, she'd be
on knees beside your grave.
Admonishing. Reminding you
to see a doctor for your heart
the way you bent and kissed her hand.

I'm thinking now as silence looms.
Presence is a fragile thing
wind removes at brittle whim.
No cashmere tears will calm
the wool of losing you.
I pull my husband close to me.
Run my fingers on his chest
like syllables in sentences
I'll save before they vaporize.
I'll kiss his lips of lavender,
rub his forehead with my thumbs,
cherish seasons as they are
before the blindness intervenes.
Copper pennies of the sunlight
adding up to dollar bills.
A body is a stack of hay.
We live beneath those thunderheads.
Umbrellas of unspoken love
are nails in a hole for screws.

Copyright © Janet Buck 2000


Send private comments to author: JBuck22874@aol.com

Learn more about author at: http://wwww.janetbuck.com




Comments: Wonderful poem Janet! A great read from start to finish.

Name: phattkat



Comments: I'm afraid I have to demur a bit here. This is two very nice poems tied together, and not very comfortable with each other.
The second one starts "I pull my husband close to me" and goes on from there. The two ARE very good.

Name: RhymeMaster
EMail: rhymer01@thewritersnook.com



Comments: Well Ms Buck- keep throwing us your pearls-
they are lovely indeed!

Name: val magnuson
EMail: vallmagnuson@poetsporch.com



Enter your public comment:




Your name: Your e-mail:



Comments will be posted in two days unless rejected.