I forgot your name


I waited for you
to walk with me
towards heaven.
A long way,
longer ago
than being born.


Three tones
repeated themselves:
NEAR     FAR     NEVER
struck together
they sounded an agony.


Storms began in the mind
spread to the flesh
hurricaning with wrath.


I waited for you
bore with my unblessing.
I wanted to go at once,
start on the morning
of beginning,
but I had lost all sense
of direction.


My hair grizzled,
my joints stiffened,
my legs lamed.
Which way to heaven?
And where was love,
NEAR    FAR     NEVER
I forgot your name.


Madeline Gleason