Easter
 
By Robert Roach
 
1.
 
half-remembered high school days
when everything was smaller
and larger
brief
yet infinite
when loneliness
was measured in hours not years
what happened?
what tide swept you out this far?
there was no tide
no moon looking over its shoulder and winking
just the slow ebb of time
wasted
 
2.
 
your hand was hot
words appeared like stars
their meaning beyond me
she asked us for our tickets
and the spell was broken
 
3.
 
a grave came between us
and I broke
 
4.
 
he hit her pretty hard
and she fell
I did nothing
days later
I saw the bruise
and looked away
 
5.
 
the space between people
seems small
when death comes
bringing loss
heavy as the sun
 
6.
 
look
in the distance
smoke
run to your cellars
dogs howl
sheets twist
the earth screams
 
7.
 
impatient
aimless
and scared
a cumbersome skin to shed
 
8.
 
a knife
then blood
it got on my coat
it seemed imprudent to complain
 
9.
 
thoughts
uninvited
reeking
grinning
while you vomit into your hand
 
10.
 
unsteady
on a loose tightrope
between mad gods
 
11.
 
it fell like dust
but cold
it froze me
not solid
just enough to burn
 
12.
 
what heals what's gone?