USA

rfox@artic.edu 

Matthew (1961-1990)

In late May we took our leave -
the four of us took our leave

The rain was hot and rolled down in strips
as we took our leave

I never saw you again - No -
I did see you again

but before that the space shuttle exploded
on a winter's day like today but in Philadelphia

Gracie cut my hair and we watched that tiny kernel
go from galvanizing sing-along

to domestic lamentation in an octopus of smoke
and under the downhearted hammering I thought of you

with my hair falling the little space ship falling
and you getting the news somewhere

And I think of you now
with the astronauts and some parboiled fish

who litter the ocean floor

And I wanted you to know that I thought of you today
and the hot smoking tentacles of your death

bringing the four of us together

And you come for a visit as you did on a winter's day like today -
a winter's day like today but in Philadelphia

And then we drive you back to Brooklyn
where you lived for a while

© Copyright, 2000, Richard Fox.
All Rights Reserved. Printed By Permission.