SNOW AND THE EYES OF THE WOLVES
Don’t be afraid of winter and wolves
in this forest.
Winter is a transparent ivory egg,
and wolves are older dogs.
Don’t be afraid anyone!
We go together among the wolves,
through the winter
we have to, as all that
I promised you
is over there.
Sometimes avalanches can occur,
you’ve heard about it,
but do not let fear rule
over you,
if it happens, it will happen.
Give me your hand,
the hill is still far away
and high,
the trees are my friends,
we go by night, too
I talk to pines
as if talking to my father,
there is an old crucifix on the bank
if we pass by it –
done, and there we are.
Don’t be afraid of darkness, my dear
the snow and the eyes of the wolves
lead us.
Post
Single post, two arms
slicing light into topmost
and shadowy pleats
prodding the mind with wish
for auspicious breezes
or an eloquent verse describing
grace of evergreen limb
outlining mischief of intent
lost feathers blown
by wind and misfortune
lustre absentia’s ideal
mind connecting to
eternity in a post and its rails
just two arms holding emptiness
Excerpt
In spite of her heavy heart, Tyne grinned. Dr. Dunston could lift her spirits simply by being present.
“If you hadn’t been away fishing, or whatever you were doing, you’d know that I got back to work two months ago.”
It was the doctor’s turn to grin. “Yeah, I guess.” He slapped her lightly on the back as he walked by to pick up a patient’s chart. “How’s it going, girl? How’s married life?”
Tyne smiled openly now. “It’s great. With a husband as wonderful as Morley, how could it be otherwise?” She sobered suddenly and indicated the chart he was holding. “I wish it was as great for your patient.”
Grant Dunston tapped the cover of the book-like chart. “Yeah … Lydia. What kind of night did she have?”
For a moment Tyne forgot her distress over Barry in her concern for Lydia Conrad and her children.
“Not good, I’m afraid. It’s not only her surgery she’s concerned about, but she’s worried sick about the children.”
Grant Dunston shrugged, but Tyne knew he wasn’t unconcerned. “Yeah, I know. If it wasn’t for that useless husband of hers ….”
“Dr. Dunston, what can be done for them? I mean, even while Lydia’s convalescing they’ll need care – more than she can give – and obviously she can’t depend on Corky.” Tyne closed a chart and pushed it back into its slot. She turned to face the doctor. “Isn’t there anyone who can take them in for a while? It would help Lydia’s recovery, too, if she knew they were being cared for.”
She realized that Dr. Dunston had been staring at her for several moments with a quizzical look.
“What ..?” she began, but stopped when his puckish features broke into a grin.
“How about you, Tyne?”
Her mouth fell open. “Me? Are you serious?”
“Sure, why not? You’ve got all that land for them to run around, and all those animals to amuse them, and all those good homegrown vegetables. They’d love it.”
Undivided
With his airy smile still reflecting
bygone glorious days
he stood amid the gravestones
and statuettes resembling
our dead comrades lost in battle
or in a hutment drenched in blood.
Suddenly his eyes dived deep into mine
he let a sigh go as silently as
the statuettes and whispered: only
this graceful smile will stay forever
remember this at the hour of reckoning
only this graceful smile remains
all the rest perish, vanish
like the fragrance of hyacinths
in the wind’s blow
like the love you make to a woman
like the sand through a sieve
or the fingers of your hand
yet this moment will last forever
because only the now can’t be divided
for everything else, they have found
pieces, fractions, and elements.
Manolis Aligizakis 