it caught the corner
of my eye
Pavlovian neck twist
jarring synapsis
tears followed
was it a ghost
or flickering dust particulate
sent me
crashing into your picture
sitting crisscross
considering memory’s place
longing to touch your finger
soft sunlight played
dog dander and field burn
swirled in the long evening
the radio crackled
long forgotten songs
played on vinyl
once again they fell
Is today your birthday?
Anniversary?
numbers blur
last year’s calendar
still hangs
rectangle wall stain
emotions wipe away
mental images persist
a face through the years
suddenly I stand alone /