insulated
in sweats
against cool air
watching distant lights
on Princes’ Islands
thoughts drift north
a thousand miles
only to settle
here
in this ancient city
as the morning prayer
fails to calm
this mind
trying to cope
with this broken world
other writing
the picture
frozen
in time
to burn
forever
in memory
where something is
not knowing where
something is
shouldn’t keep one
from looking
for it
reading the news
it’s hard
reading the news
the face
of some politicians
makes me nauseous
in my head
unspoken conversations
I dream
of unspoken conversations
all I wanted
to tell you
those many times
we talked
would you have listened
without turning away
would these dreams
of conversations
mattered
in the light
of day
what draws us near
we cannot always
escape
that which draws
us near
all that is offered
the woods
are burning
instead of water
all that is offered
are more matches
heaven’s tears
more gone
here there
everywhere
in a war
without end
and heaven’s tears
fall this morning
on a people
in mourning
toward morning
the dogs howl
a chorus
of discontent
finally silenced
by the call
to prayer
communication
one cannot answer
a message
not sent
Leonard Durso 