Category: Poems

by Lonnie Hull DuPont • for Doug (Lonnie wrote this poem in 1980. She typed it out and gave it to me in a rattan frame. It’s hanging on my studio wall. I asked Joe, her husband, if I could…

May 19, 2001 • for Davey Photo courtesy of Sara Biljana were God to askby what measure of sweetnessHe should make heaven for meI could only makeone answer—just an ordinary day—with you

November 29, 1989 • for Davey the day before your birthdaywas much like any otherlittle did this country boy realize—working half-heartedly in the orchard,singing songs and dreaming of the city—that soon in that citya new life would arrivethat would change…

June 11, 1989 • for Davey Photo [detail] courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the Yorck Project “What foolish, romantic notions”—they looked down and smiledand for years, I nodded my head,chuckled agreeably,while my heart folded stubborn armsand waited and then, you simply…

March 2, 1989 • for Thomas Photo courtesy of giupuo I bought the book you recommended(though I admit, right then, in that light,any suggestion from those perfect lipswould have made perfect sense to me)I tried to read it—I began—but scarcely…

February, 1989 • for Tim Photo courtesy of Noël Zia Lee I feel like celebrating your birthdaypopping corks and pouring champagnelighting candlestying a bow around the world you look on in humble protest—too much, you say(you smile a little)much too lavish…

November, 1988 Photo courtesy of docpop Under the stubborn, wet November leavesI followed the golden streetlights tonightmuch further than I intendedthe shadow of my umbrellapassed over pools of shimmering asphaltlike a ghost made of the spacebetween starsI walked slowly as a…

September 26, 1988 • for Rick Photo courtesy of kthypryn The moon rose next to Mars tonightand fullA month ago and further North it waswe saw its fulness last—gaping into its beams as if drunkon the wind and stars—Bathed in its…

September 16, 1988 Photo courtesy of ientu Like this first leaf of AutumnI fell for youI traded my lofty attachmentsfor sudden flight—gusts and whirlwindsforsaken placesforgotten cornersI let it go—that comfortable glade of green—and soon found I could knowother colors—love other places…

January, 1987 • for L. Photo courtesy of ruffin_ready into the concrete square we emergedfrom damp shadows of skyscrapersand the sky—scraped clean—beckoned blue we stood squinting into sunlightcheeks thawing whilewe drank in brisk airwe sent our spirits outto the skatersas they…

Fall, 1986 Photo courtesy of David Nava Under a windy Orionfour shadowy walkersglide smoothly overpavement and curb—streetlights and Ishow them where they must fall,where converge.Between solemn stridesI practice my spins—not gracefully, as you did.I confuse the air—you left it clean and…

October, 1986 • for Lonnie Photo courtesy of Ben Salter There’s a balance in all thissomehowme on the rightyou, the leftinhaling and exhalingwe looked through the same window: You watched the rush of oncomingtraffic, faces,the little stubborn islands of treeand twice-painted…

Fall, 1984 Photo courtesy of Johan Larsson a measured worda careful goodbye from youand suddenlywords are flowinglike the music you requestedbecause, you said,the title fit yourcircumstance I sat then, poisedbetween duty and passionlife and some sort ofsacred chronologythat you thought sacred,…

abt. 1982 • for Todd I remember you as a wound—a sharp stabof pain—a clean cut (the devil in me falls away)of joy—a hot touch (the angel in me jumps into sky)your bluest eyes trained on the soulyou knelt before…

Winter, 1980 Photo courtesy of Dominic Alves I dreamed once offire laughing in the skythe world on endwas bending meinviting meYou—and thatrightside-up world of yours—saw me yieldingand did not call me back stifling a cry in my heartI laughedand jumped into…