this is the photograph
this is the
photograph
of you
dressed in
black and white
it has faded
along the hemline
of your summer dress
and just over
your left eyebrow
there is a small
almost indistinct
crease
which sadly
gives you
an angry
expression
behind you
is a blur
of sepia
and the muted yellows
of age
seeming to drip
out of focus
blending
only at last
in a dark
smudge
by your
feet
this is the
photograph
of you
i keep
with me
always
and sometimes
when the subway
slows
a sudden
fear
overcomes me
and begins
to blister into
reality
with the uncertain
certainty
that you are
gone
this is the
photograph
of you
that too often
i pull
from my
shirt pocket
to stare past
my thumb
into your
eyes
half-closed
but looking
back
at me
with a kind of
half-open
promise
that i was sure
you
would
keep
photograph
of you
dressed in
black and white
it has faded
along the hemline
of your summer dress
and just over
your left eyebrow
there is a small
almost indistinct
crease
which sadly
gives you
an angry
expression
behind you
is a blur
of sepia
and the muted yellows
of age
seeming to drip
out of focus
blending
only at last
in a dark
smudge
by your
feet
this is the
photograph
of you
i keep
with me
always
and sometimes
when the subway
slows
a sudden
fear
overcomes me
and begins
to blister into
reality
with the uncertain
certainty
that you are
gone
this is the
photograph
of you
that too often
i pull
from my
shirt pocket
to stare past
my thumb
into your
eyes
half-closed
but looking
back
at me
with a kind of
half-open
promise
that i was sure
you
would
keep
