women
you say to the shot glass
have never been my forte
and the sadness settles in again
another shot
another wasted phone call
another long look at the printed page
life goes on
and you go with it
writing and reading and watching the young
and thinking
I must hold out longer
just a little longer
close your eyes
take a drink
then another
listen to the clouds drift by
fall asleep on the couch
and wake with the wind in your face
sometime near morning
for a friend
fool: for Frank
you sit in rooms
listening to people talking about
the bible/aquariums/carving coconuts
and struggle to keep your eyes open
you keep seeing her car instead
parked in someone else’s driveway
at night, all night, till morning
see the pictures in your head
of what transpires in the dark
fool, you say
missing what was never yours
fool, fool
fool
a tanka: Michael alone
water laps the rocks
the sun hangs high in the sky
tea cold in his glass
there is sadness in his heart
past and future beyond reach
Leonard Durso 