Halvard Johnson

Halvard Johnson (hjohnson@umbc.edu) is a frequent contributor to RealPoetik. You can check out his website at http://home.earthlink.net/~halvard/index.html

Keep 'em flying.

Hal "Once upon a time, Baltimore was necessary."

--Gertrude Stein

Early That Summer

1.

A sudden flash, some

box--a compact

one of brightness,

forcing in from pale

wallpaper like

rhombus of itself

toomuchness of carpet

lost the fitted extremities

only a neat standard

chair.

2.

Two very white

positions hang the wall,

radiating, able for their

being some five feet from

fiercely. Most entirely glared

something dark sheen as

of wedding photograph.

3.

On the right, with empty

and pale grey obtained

by the decibel level's

main interest.

4.

Centered fine stripe

of the lightshape,

paler than right.

Figure swathed in navy,

lower buttons undone.

Hair--back, smooth;

lips--warm porcelain;

palm--pink, left.

We cannot hear, prompt

a glance--the companion

we are watching.

5.

Old woman conveys

uncomfortable brace. Neck

droops, she is thin.

Knitted skirt--undistinguished.

Skin without blemish.

Fingernails of neglected

vanity. Face gapes, tentative

dab at the eyes, nervous

out of engrained habit.

6.

Between the two of them

an empty cup

spoon, an opened carton

of milk, one remaining

gingernut. Sitting

for some time.

7.

Each cycle ends

then begins,

greater or lesser doses

whole cache.

The waste is immaterial.

Table, small, to stretch

out in stages. Staring

at ceiling, twitches,

flinches, fumbles

breast. A caress,

her elbow deflated.

Her face and eyes and

other things to do.

Halvard Johnson