nothing broke
that wasn’t already breaking
nothing lost
that wasn’t already almost gone
those years
like an eternity
left their marks
on heart on soul
and yet
I would gladly relive them
if only to taste
the sweetness
in your smile
memory
standing at the edge
there was the sea and
the plaintive cry of seagulls
you stood at the edge
with a look I could not read
waves broke
the sun did not shine
last links
brittle letters
with age
photographs
in an album
the last links
to people
events
almost gone
from memory
this night in Moda
pide and wine
a guitar a singer
dark eyes lingering
on my mind
there’ll be no sleep
this night
in Moda
the things I remember
I would speak to you
my love
of the things I remember
but my heart is so heavy
there is the taste of sorrow
in my mouth
in limbo: with a nod to my old friend Li Shang-yin
a breeze blows
the curtains
Emmylou sings
of walking
a thousand miles
my mind drifts
a tea cup
a smile
a laugh
a heart
in limbo
on this side
of the world
listening to The Fouır Seasons sing Walk like A Man: for Kevin, Vic & Joey wherever you are
those words that song
echoing in the halls
of memory
with the picture
of your youthful swagger
coming through the door
of the Youth Center
before all that followed
came to pass
and age cuts tears
took their toll
muscles sag
hair recedes
and the bop, Joey
is gone
but the scars
remain
your voice echoing
no amount of whiskey
from the night before
can wash away
the sound of your voice
echoing
till morning
a restless mind
no sleep
for a restless mind
faces swirl
around
with eyes closed
or open
reminding me
of where
of what
I’ve been
you sang a song
we stood on rocks
waves breaking
the sea in the air
you sang a song
just for me
to hear
waves breaking
words drifting out
to sea
Leonard Durso 