Published on: 10/28/2015
Reading Late, Alone, He Thinks of His Absent Lover

Somewhere the sea is calm tonight.
The moon is up, and holds its own.

A couple pauses in the firelight.

Here the wind begins its bite.
How it starts: the long cold drone.
Somewhere the sea is calm tonight—

On the farther shore the light's
Just out. All the birds have flown.

A couple whispers in the firelight.

The wind is cold: leaves take flight
Around a moon that climbs alone.
Somewhere the sea is calm tonight

While high against the cliffs, dreamlike,
The wind keeps up its distant moan.

A couple moves in the firelight.

Love, be true. The moon is white
And birds have long since returned to home.
Somewhere the sea is calm tonight

And a couple dreams in the firelight.