MOTHER

© 1999 Clinton Cyril Somerton

for Laura

Across the barroom there is
nothing but cigarette smoke and a
cloud of doubt
between us

Your young-woman's smile
and the too-loving fabric of your
thin light dress
wound me
my burning eyes bleeding anger
at the empty space beside you

Your tai-chi arms
enchant the air
pure wings fanning
hope against my slow cage
as if you would
show me
the way the world moves
outside the drunken limbo
between panic
and abandon

Shame makes me forget
offering my sleeping heart to you
torn concrete hiding
pretending I could
be that close to you

and as I
slip away
I still want to believe
the empty space beside you
is saved for me.

*****