Poetry
Center of a Room
Joseph Massey
Night's reached
our room. Close
the door. Say—
through this light—
what you wanted
said all day.
1.
From the rain you come
to stand here in silence
and find it all out.
2.
not saying much
only the candle
moves this evening
3.
rhythm of crickets
only a few beats faster
than your heart
4.
Branches—hours after
Dawn—tall shadows
on the blinds.
5.
Traffic or
is it rain
the window
won't hold
to silence.
6.
lopsided moon
over a field riding
the highway with us
7.
By design
no design.
Resigned
to this.
8.
stopped to feel
wind around a
pistachio tree
of Cezanne's
9.
Rain dims
to
breath.
With
first
word
falls
hard
again.
10.
Cricket—we're looking
at the fullest moon since we
moved here—keep it up.
11.
train replaces
sound of
your breath
sleeping
through it
12.
On the floor
your black sweater.
Already autumn.
13.
soon as I sit down open
to a cricket poem
bramble cricket begins
14.
beside reflection
of leaves
on the water
leaves
15.
Ear cupped
to gather
the rain's
phrasing.
16.
you arrive
as sparrows from rows
of pine release
across the moon
in daylight
17.
night no
cricket sounds
we close
both windows