with reference and respect

i tell you this



mist rose along the edge

scrubbed out scrubbed out that feeling

erased all marks or iridescent gestures

drew it inward until

it became outward

play the games

until all rises into absent beings

the beetle crawls fondly across the floor and we leave it

white mouse feeds at the window

a small plane flies over



maybe the tiredness brought the apparition melting

yet his face remained perfect

to me

through those years

i remember him running

his dog behind

remaining thoughts

move forward