Long View
From the bluff called Cedar Bluff, though the cedars
were mostly gone, she watched the two young men,
small from her height, as they stood a few feet
out in the lake. What do brothers talk about?
Do they still say she’s crazy because she doesn’t
want them to spill things? Exchange one –
syllable confidences? Their backs to her,
as if she could read their lips 500 feet down
a sand dune. She could get the binoculars–
hear them say I almost like Jeter now he’s old.
Well, you can’t spend your whole life hating Jeter.
She heads back to the small house.
They’ll be climbing the dune looking
looking for food–their only proof of love.
She says je vous aimez les deux.
They hear do you want mustard?
They’ll stop to wash the sand off their feet
like they’ve been taught, the hose kinked
and neither will fix it–just spray patiently.
She will study this– how the hose makes one sharp turn
and the sun will glance off lean brown bodies.
5 replies on “Long View”
What DO brothers talk about? Or think about? Seems like you’ve read their minds, if not their lips. Thanks for this lovely poem with vivid images.
You made me feel as like I was standing you with on the bluff. You made the scene come alive. Mary
Lake Michigan? It must be!
This poem uses imagery to present the physical and emotional distance and connectedness that exist between adult children and their parents., as well as the relationships they create between themselves….a lovely own.
….a lovely poem (apologies from auto correct).