II: The Pantoums of Dementia#
Movement I - Undulation
the seconds slowed to stop as Father passed,
when flocking sons returned to home to mourn,
then Mother’s mind began to crack at last
as moments shed in threads she once had worn.
when flocking sons returned to home to mourn,
recast in lensing rays of age amassed
as moments shed in threads she once had worn
the Father’s sons adorned with clothes outcast.
recast in lensing rays of age amassed
a question, Mother, may I have a dance?
the Father’s sons adorned with clothes outcast
an offered hand through loops of time’s expanse.
a question, Mother, may I have a dance?
their Father knelt and tender took her hand,
an offered hand through loops of time’s expanse,
their final words in wilting hearts expand.
their Father knelt and tender took her hand,
the seconds slowed to stop as Father passed,
their final words in wilting hearts expand,
then Mother’s mind began to crack at last.
Movement II - Rearrangement
remember now before the future fades,
the sutured minutes of memories held,
records replayed as grooving sound degrades,
advancing echoes, music notes dispelled.
the sutured minutes of memories held:
now twirling dance, oh younger selves, entrance
advancing echoes, music notes dispelled
through silent waltz that swells with last romance.
now twirling dance, oh younger selves, in trance
with candled spells of woven hands that grasp
through silent waltz that swells with last romance
of eyes reshaping molds, the fated clasp.
with candled spells of woven hands that grasp
relapsing moments sung by bells and crowds
of eyes, reshaping molds the fated clasp
of past refrains now sealed beneath the clouds.
relapsing moments sung by bells and crowds
concealed by crumbling walls, demented shades
of past refrains now sealed beneath these clouds
that clutter skies in swarms that stretch decades.
concealed by crumbling walls, demented shades
(remember now before the future fades)
invade the hollowed mind as scream pervades
records replayed as grooving sound degrades.
Movement III - Dissolution
remember ancillary note sentries:
the good can decay many ways.
phantom morrow’s cough. in times realize
the mention there of tenant seasons.
the good candy came anyways;
all target the damaged mind in trance,
(the men shun their often antsy sons)
the flow ingrained decomposes.
altar, get the damn aged mind, entrance
memory erstwhile, foe kissing;
the flowing rain eddy composes
another ushered
memo rehearsed while focusing
an aim, wintry slight, upward ingrown
an other us heard
the fading names of suns.
a name when trees light up, warding grown
remembrance, ill airy notes in trees,
the fading names of sons
fan tomorrow’s coffin, time’s real eyes.
June 2025
Date |
Publication |
Status |
|---|---|---|
June 1, 2025 |
Tabula Rasa |
Pending |
June 1, 2025 |
The Louisville Review |
Pending |
June 3, 2025 |
Frontier Poetry |
Pending |
June 4, 2025 |
Swan Scyth Press |
Pending |
June 6, 2025 |
Boulevard Magazine |
Pending |
June 12, 2025 |
Merion West |
Pending |