Poem of the Week

Each week we feature a poem by one of our authors. Take a few moments to enjoy it. And then, if you'd like to pass it along to a friend who could use a pause-poésie in their day, click on the "share this poem" link below.

Ghost Stories

by Catherine Hunter

I.

the morning my husband called me to the window
and said look, I looked, and we saw a man
walking backwards, barefoot in the snow

these are the signs of loss: the red mitten perched
on the hood of a parking meter, ice
clinging to the wool like beads of sweat

the mitten thumbtacked to the bulletin board

the white diamonds of a chain-link fence
in a blizzard, every wire hung with frost
and on top of the fence-post, a mitten

those times when you stand on your front porch,
keys in your hand
am I leaving something behind?

or halfway down the stairs,
the reason for descending
suddenly escapes you

the way the meaning of a word disintegrates
with repetition

the way the snow obliterates beauty
with beauty, un trou de mémoire
white flakes swirling
in the black hole

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