screen is milky summer haze

lightening crackles on the radio
the soothing sotto radio charmer

music stuttering in and out
as I lay stunned in the threshold
of dreaming

the purple light of the bug lamp
snaps and sizzles
the echo on the woods bounces back

it sounds wider then death

the stars have gone on such a night
I crave the rain on the rooftop beyond
the cedar beams

moths bounce against the metal
reminding me of a typewriter
space bar tapped lightly

something moves through the brush
slowly

a low subturanean throb through
the ground
feel thunder before hearing
it
seeing it

count the seconds before the
flash goes off
maples and birchs fat with leaves
they drink in the moist humidity
as I float from sequence to sequence
I cannot awake enough to stand
my body is heavy like the lakewater
depths
warm and deep
sediment soft

Now the breeze plays on the tops
of the hemlocks
ancient and weathered by winters
and storms

bug lamp swings in the new gusts
its light shinning through the curtians

the fridge comes on
compressor driving the coolant
around
there is a loaf of half eaten bread
vinegar a steak in the freezer
some vegetables
mustard mayonaise
orange juice
box of baking soda
two bottles of coca cola
and a small can of gingerale
behind the

wait


a car climbs down the gravel
lane threaded through the
tall old growth

listen to see which way it goes
it turns left away from us
this cottage

I know the feel of the keys in my
pocket the fob the front door
the store keys
security gate
boxes here and there

it will start the pick up on the
third turn of the starter motor
push the clutch in
emergency handle pulled out
the green instruments will
glow when I pull out the knob
the dashboard is clean
and wide

it smells like Blue Poly wipe
gasoline  dust and plastic

The thunder is closer
the windows rattle
old poured glass wooden
slides

something big is stuck in the
electric span
electrocuting slowly
sparks drizzle down
reminding me of the
city at night

all the wandering lost and
found

but here its quiet
the voice of this storm
grates against the tall
hills rolling clean
across the lake
small waves now

I am inside the dream
standing in daylight
on the street
the hills of the small town
the Mustang behind me parked
in front of the Post office
with its world war one
soldier of stone atop
the pillar with its names

I can see you climbing from
the Chrysler
the hardtop with its
trailer hitch
rear bumper all chrome
and tilted at the right tail light
where we backed into the
concrete planter
in Bala one summer tour

the light is so beautiful
and you are shinning with
a halo of light about your
face

Im almost across the smooth
curve of the roadway

when something
someone is standing at
the doorway

The stillness as the sound
is absorbed
as the breeze is drawn
still for a moment

My eyes are now wide awake
and a flash
fills the lake windows
the leaves are turned
and sing silver psalms

I didnt realize I'm sweating
heart racing
the music is slow soft
southern beat

the latch holds on the
first test

I can smell them

smoke and fire
something old

and beautiful