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Butterfly (for E.K.) Your tears were the first thing I heard on the other end of the line "please don't hang up," your first words your voice childlike lost in the separation of miles you're losing control you tell me rocking back and forth listening to Bach as you peer at the window seeing nothing beyond you've lost your medicine they've taken your child the police are there looking through all your things reading the letters I sent they're crawling through the house looking for evidence of the crimes of which you are accused they're taking your computer out the door I close my eyes and picture you long nailed fingers entwined in that wild storm of hair lips collecting the tears from those welling eyes "I can't be here anymore," you say "please read to me, take me away," you say "will you be my butterfly again?" you ask I don't answer, just tell you to hold on while I get the book when I return you are gone and I listen to the dead air between us Portrait of Loss As gentle as whispered words she enters the room dwelling by the wide-thrown windows engulfed by the heavy scent of dying magnolias. Gazing at her shadow cast against the burnt sienna of the walls always haunted by shadow. Weighed with sorrow she hangs her head eyes falling on naked feet and her star-spangled toes. Raising her petal-soft, dark hands to her head teasing the long, think tangle of black hair from her face tying it loosely behind her fragile neck. Delicately she treads the bare wood as if stepping on rice paper. Easing down onto the sofa smoothing down her long, azure cotton dress. Reaching for the mandolin resting by her side caressing its swollen belly as though it bore a child within. Tenderly she strikes the strings as though they were heart strings her feet slowly tapping out the rhythm of her mournful tune. Sensuous, full lips soundlessly mouth the words head tilting toward the skies as clouds gather in her eyes. Unless you have explicit written permission from the copyright holder, you are denied permission to publish or republish this file, or a modification of this file, or any extract from this file, by any means. |  |
