The Theme
Snowing the first day of April
and my father's birthday
his seventieth I think
though I can't be sure
I've lost track
In the more than eight years
since I last saw him.
Seventy years eight years
yet another snow April beginning
these are the themes
both he and I understand
it is this understanding
that has made us both half *****
wind bends the trees.
Even after eight years
I know at this moment
he and I
lost in this gray light
are doing exactly the same thing
the one thing we both do well
the one thing we share
is staring alone out windows
watching trees bend in the wind
listening to the wind
contemplating with understanding
the theme that never mattered.
Will it change?
Will the old theme become real
again?
Yours was a good try
in spite of what the others say
in spite of where you are
I think I will break more easily
perhaps not
the stock is strong
you were stronger than you knew
more haunted than you knew.
Last night she said she wanted my child
we could call it James.