Poem: Shadower

They were being led-though not with equal reason much led as ushered-by a stripling allowed to take the least interest, who, when called upon made sure they made their transfers, lay the foundation of a seat, and were not alone too drawn out train to train, dressed for appointments they'd likely have to walk to one time they arrived at Government Center or Boylston. Clearly they were self-satisfied The man moved with power, the young woman he was with a grace behind him, at the same time anyone could see her mights He sometimes took her hand. The male child the sighted one, would proceed ahead or trail, the figure or angel who disappears.

And now, thinking back, it's easy to be struck by dint of the healed half-closure of the organ of visions and the slight tilts of their heads toward hearing, when it was the sum of two units of them together that gave the point of time what it had, the way they followed you, the way you followed them, separate, intimate, sexual, as if wherever they were going would be longing satisfied. Someone in the blindness of your heart was missing. The pair must have known that you were there, like the lad who saw but didn't say a word, then disappeared, as they did, one time you turned your head and musing

Copyright World verse Incorporated Sep/Oct 1996

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