April Poetry | Jill McCabe Johnson

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate and highlight our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to again offer daily poetry during April.

Saying Goodbye

—  Jill McCabe Johnson —

And if I loved you, I could say, stay with me.
Istvan Laszlo Geher

Another day in a city of days
……….where the sun doles light,
and work numbs like a jigger of gray,

……….gray as the sidewalk where we walk.
Where maple leaves
……….filter brightness in metered doses of green.

And if a crow lay motionless
……….but for the tremor of her wings,
would we not curb our wretchedness,

……….like the crow’s mate in the branches above,
who protects his beloved
……….from the early grief in his call?

But no, the bird in the tree cries simply, stay with me,
……….and our sidewalk crow,
crippled and scarred, answers, stay.

First published in Shark Reef.