The Hawk Portico 3:00pm
The Waves Today Remind Me
of Children Playing
uneven in Their Tumult
sporadic in Their Breaking
–
Yes, I have read of The Accident
but My Observations
were gathered
beforehand
The Tomato-coloured Couch 1:10pm
I felt Your Little Black Heart
wrap around Me
as I traversed the rainy Sobey’s Parking Lot
My Hair Newly Cut
You grabbed My Black Bullet-proof Vest
shouting “Live, Damn It, Live”
I stand in sublimity
observing The November Sun
setting Its Light
against The Panorama of Spruce
out My Back Kitchen Door —
Subtle Clouds are rippled
like beach sand
& The Crows have yet
to finish My Offering
of old Shepherd’s Pie
The Tomato-coloured Couch 7:22pm
The First Room Mate I had in New York City
was a dark-headed guy with something off
in one eye
I answered His Ad in The Village Voice
“share 2bdrm apt. Lower E Side
$230 per mo
call anytime”
I called at six o’clock in the morning
He said I was the first person
to call
I arrived at nine — the appointed time
in My Interview Dress —
navy sheath with cream-trimmed pockets
& V-neck —
His name was Bennett Ram
His phone was ringing off The Hook
He didn’t seem to have anyone else lined up
He kept unplugging & re-plugging His Phone
I sat on His Couch
& met His Chaotic Friends —
one of whom pointed out a maggotty pot of beans & rice
on top of the refrigerator
The Hawk West Desk Window 8:00am
It’s Time I Said Good-Bye
to My Mother
right from where I stand Today
I will not be going out to The Island
with The Alternative Energy Tech —
My Daughter will go in My Stead —
I can rely on Eliza
as My Mother relied on Me —
I will not be going down memory lane
to The Thoreau House in the woods
built by My Mother’s Perfect Son-in-law
I will not be going There —
I will not be sweeping up dead flies
in My Mother’s Island House —
I swept the flies there alone once
when I was 18 — Eliza’s age —
to open The Place for My Mother’s arrival —
Today Eliza will be readying for a prospective buyer
& I will not be walking down to The Lower Orchard
to visit My Mother’s Limestone Squirrel
perched on Her Granite Marker —
Today I Stand in Eliza’s Corner Room upstairs
Here At The Hawk
& gaze upon The Panorama of Sun’s Rays
filtering down on My Atlantic Home
The Hawk Bedroom 2:52pm
I Am That Woman
standing poised
with My Weight on My Left Foot
My Left Hand
gracing My Belly
My Right Hand
holding My Black Book
against A Secure Right Hip
Right Leg and Foot turned tentatively back
contemplating
My Preparedness
The Hawk Bedroom 8:30am
I was That Child
exclaiming as I came through The Gate
of My Grandmother’s Jordan Bay Garden:
“Granmama — You have the most beautiful garden
in The Whole Wide World –”
exclaiming with feigned delight
because I knew
how much I could please Her
Today I drove past a black cat
the size & shape of Astro
stretched out dead
on the road into Clark’s Harbour
I wondered if He was loved
as much as I love Astro
I wondered if He could have been hit
because of His Blackness
Joanna Gilman Hyde 