Tag: past
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The Birds Remember Everything
A lyrical meditation on city birds, memory, and instinct. This poem honors the quiet rituals of return, grief, and the histories we refuse to name.
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Landline
I dialed the landline to my childhood home, let it ring into the past— again and again and againI knew my parents wouldn’t answer. They’re both dead. Still, the ringing soothed— each unanswered tonea promise that someone, anyone, might answer. After ten rings, a recorded message came on.The voice was full of girly twang and…
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Ghosts in the Light
She remembers when the light was filled with silent ghosts. They would flicker in and out in the cigarette smoke of the theater, each frame an ashy wisp, a burnt offering.The story spooling out in the air was a familiar one.The sentiment caught in her heart and made her cry. Years later, she went back,after…
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On My Father’s House
On my father’s housethree slaves and six horsesdied when the old stable blazeda century and a half ago, and three union and two confederate soldiersslayed each otherin a forgotten skirmisha few years later.Their skeletons were foundtwo years after the war under an uprooted white pine.The county let the field return to forest,except for the old…
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An Almost Practical Man
I don’t know if I am a practical person. I don’t obsess over the uses of a watch.It’s enough that it tick and the hands move forward, even if I don’t.When my dog paces in front of the door I know I must walk him. When he paws my lap, I must feed him. He…
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The Path
I come to the creek path near my house, the one my wife doesn’t like me to walk alone, for fear I might fall. I see mountain bikes riding through, a leashed triplets of dogs of Goldilock sizes their caregiver behind, struggling to contain their strides.My husky-chi barks at them, underneath a low growl in…
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An Endless Telephone Call
I knew this pulse had traveled thru spacewith a shivery speedto reach this felt sole,these five yards of ancient twisted wires that gave it sound-striking its bell three times in mournful bursts.it was too early to hear the good news of friends.Yet, even not quite awake,I knew between the sounds of hello and goodbye my…