TWO POEMS

Submission

Then the blue screech the lake bellowing my name over a crowd but I never felt found never knew that sharp peal of a bellTo be greeted hello by a warm group of friends who allOnly to win any cold fellowship governed by the thinnest laws of bondage every angel peering at the one who fellHit the ground and didn’t move just lay there pillowing his head with his arm refusing to get up there’s no pillTo lead him back through decades of shame no yellow prayer to undo his losses so when the lake rises up and yellsFor him why would he not answer the cello’s note vibrating in vapor filling his pockets with rocks planning to leave the cellOf his own making summoned by the willow on the riverbank I will be the first person in the history of my shame to breakThe old pattern and default my debt to depth and though from the dreadful sentence of uncounted sins I shine I shineNo voice from heaven rains down to meet mine though all the angry angels and prophets levy every ancient fine