there
on the beach
a girl’s tan deepens
while a boy watches
in silent reverie
memory
in a cornfield
so long ago
the cry of crickets
in a cornfield
while on a backseat
of a car
love dies
my heart: for JK
you twirl
naked
in candlelight
while my heart
in my mouth
stops
never to beat
like before
ever again
this picture
there’s this picture
that reappears
against my will
in my mind
and breaks
yes breaks
my heart
all over again
regret for the words unsaid
remorse for the acts displayed
that have only left
this picture
in my mind
these things come: for Nishi
these things come
and I a captive
to their memory
a keychain minus a key
a face so young
a look of surprise
captured on film
not to see again
5000 miles away
a continent
an ocean
30 odd years gone by
the smile though
so lovely
still the same
an exile’s holiday prayer: for F
God
if you’re there
save me
from all these
old songs
and the pictures
in my head
on this
another holiday
so very far
from home
in candlelight
the candle flickering
the shadows
on the wall
tonight
bring back a memory
of you dancing
in candlelight
in that house
in Cleveland
the dog curled up
on the shag rug
asleep
the only witness
me
not so drunk
not to know
that life
would never be
any better
than this
you dancing
in candlelight
for me
4am in Moda: what lingers still: for JEP
here, old friend
5000 miles and more away
you appear still
scotch whiskey
in a glass
ice cubes
bumping shoulders
your deadpan delivery
pinball and burritos at 3am
in bars 3000 miles apart
those Texans you antagonized
mercilessly
tears amid the laughter
the mischief in your eyes
this is what
lingers still
your ghost refusing
to fade into the darkness
one more shot
for to you
to comfort us
both
and to keep the wolves
at bay
while you wait
patiently
for me
to join you
in that honky-tonk bar
in the sky
in the darkness: for Jason
when the phone calls
stop
and you’re alone
in the darkness
what voices
do you hear
what faces
float by
in memory
to comfort
to haunt
then
even three fingers of whiskey
there were days
when the sun shone
brightly & true
before night fell
& they faded
into fragments
of faulty memory
of faces
you would rather forget
even three fingers
of whiskey
can’t erase
all the debris left
of your love
Leonard Durso 