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.