The Palace of Bones

Like Silk

Like Silk Gone so long Forgot where the light switches are. Grandfather is definitely dead. Died years ago. No curtains on the kitchen window. No new Grandfather living there. The yard once full Of tomatoes and spices Dead and leafless. No one to dig up the roots, Keep them wet. Sits like winter. Pots overturned On the back steps Once filled with tea and lime Shelter cold birds. Streetlights go on Only if you walk past. It’s always too cold To walk past. 61 You are reading copyrighted material published by Ohio University Press/Swallow Press. Unauthorized posting, copying, or distributing of this work except as permitted under U.S. copyright law is illegal and injures the author and publisher. ...