Individual Voices / Natural Forms
Winter, 2006
Brendan Constantine
Morningside
She was reading at the tombstones, row
after row. Each tombstone, like an itinerary,
gave the name of a person with the dates
of their arrival & departure from the world.
Few gave more than this and she lingered
on these, sometimes speaking their oaths
quietly as if memorizing simple commands
in a foreign language. As she wandered
she was stopped by a caretaker who asked
if she needed help. Thank you, no. Sarah
died as she lived, Billy thought ill of none,
God in his wisdom called Emily back
from the sound & vision of His making
after one day. I'm already being helped.