Scott Simpson · Poetry
late august seminar in andrews hall
Selected Poems 1989 to 2009 · source pages 184, 185
All poetryThe original line breaks, stanza spacing, and placement are preserved. Long lines scroll horizontally.
Source page 184
late august seminar in andrews hall
the fields
along I-80 are dark as
three years back when
you moved behind
every stalk
in the side-spill
of my headlights--
silent trips
only three weeks
four weeks
five
after your death marked for me
a new accounting of days
three years and I am here
and something like your arm
has wrapped itself around me
your hands
steer me through campus the
way you slid your bike
in and out of traffic
wind in your long hair
force of all that was behind you
guiding, pushing
counting keeps me
looking back
you, there behind me
not changing--
shrinking with distance
the spot on that narrow road
where I listened for you
in the grass
the gravel of that shoulder
the crescent of black rubber
mapping your short encounter
with something too heavy to resist
you're coming up again
from behind me
the windows are black
late summer is rolling over
into night
the pavement cooling outside
Source page 185
the fever rippling
toward the sky
the dashboard lights
are pale green and orange
how fast I'm not going
how little time has elapsed
how far I haven't been
my headlights hardly touch
the edge of night as I
tug each marker up
from murky water
counting off the next mile
this side of you
Copyright Scott Simpson, All Rights Reserved