PETER JAY SHIPPY

October, First Snow


I walk backwards
in your footsteps.

A red sheet twists
on the clothesline.

Winter branches
bend toward our house

hoping to sip
from our bowl of suns.

Sparrows flood
the window, darkening

the bed where my head
learns to speak

by rolling across
your skin, unlike us

a bird reveals its soul
in the flock.

 

170  The Paris-American

Peter Jay Shippy's most recent book is A Spell of Songs (Saturnalia). His work appeared in the last two editions of The Best American Poetry. Shippy teaches at Emerson College. 

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  Next week's poet:

 Anthony CiriloJJCCCACc