Sign

David Mutschlecner

A sample sequence from the book

 

[from “Gatherings at the Cusp”]

 

13

Running through the graveyard
I saw the fanning form
of the phoenix in broken
pine sprays. And in an oil stain
a raven. Ah,
a strange place of signification.
Dreamless daylight,
Steubenville, Ohio.
It was no accident
that on that run
you hurt your hip,
and will not run again.
The wind will blow
from other lips.
You will not escape from this
so easily.

 

14

Brandon died from Ocean
as if he could see the waves
from here. In the highway’s
concrete caves,
dozens of old cans
of Aqua Net,
the dispensers bit off.
The muffled ache came clear
under the wailing headlights.
Springtime offers pasques
and autumn purple asters
wild and sudden and still
on the highway’s
dirty embankments.

 

15

I saw Eric
by Stoute’s Creek
living where
the road goes
under the water
and rises
to the next hill.
He smiled at me,
the long
cancer gone
from his body.
I forgive
you the turning
when we
were twelve
and friend-
ship starved.