Vince Clemente
Story in Blue
I remember how she dyed her sandels blue,
iris-blue, and how she moved in shadows
flowers cast, splintery but true,
and how at night, water
dripping from the eaves,
a single iris bloomed in her garden
and a boy - me - came to serenade her
with his pipe, one long blue note
then another, so sad
even the blue heron wept.
But that was so long ago
I'd forgotten how fragrance
of the pear tree stings, why enough
to stop the heart. Now,
an old man alone in the garden,
I eavesdrop, listen to the lolling fruit
carry on their hushed chatter
like children who refuse
to come in from the dark,
linger in shadows
prayerful against a church wall.
iris-blue, and how she moved in shadows
flowers cast, splintery but true,
and how at night, water
dripping from the eaves,
a single iris bloomed in her garden
and a boy - me - came to serenade her
with his pipe, one long blue note
then another, so sad
even the blue heron wept.
But that was so long ago
I'd forgotten how fragrance
of the pear tree stings, why enough
to stop the heart. Now,
an old man alone in the garden,
I eavesdrop, listen to the lolling fruit
carry on their hushed chatter
like children who refuse
to come in from the dark,
linger in shadows
prayerful against a church wall.
Page(s) 36
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