michael keshigian

 

 

STANZA FOR SAL

 

The dog’s grave smells of incense

and decaying leaves,

a musky overtone 

above its eternal resting place

highlighted by a single ray

designated by the sun

as a condition of acknowledgement

which I see through the window

beside my desk.

Yet with every sighting

of the chocolate layered soil,

drying slowly for three days

in a singular warmth,

where the ferns bend forward

in prayer and the dog’s carefree

spirit still plays in the shadows,

the halls of my mind

unwind another image,

a portrait of my father

slowly opening his eyes

from a deep sleep

momentarily ceasing the erratic snore

that accompanied

the contorted countenance

signaling his eventual surrender

to the black celled forces

beneath his skin.

Blessed are the animals,

for they ignorantly depart.

Blown into darkness, he hovered

with the knowledge of extinction

upon a precipice illuminated

by the sun’s singular

yet dimming direction.

Blessed are the abandoned,

they shall be guided.

 

MICHAEL KESHIGIAN  is the author of six poetry chapbooks. His poetry has been widely published in numerous national and international journals, appearing as the feature writer for The Aurorean, Poetree Magazine, Chantarelle’s Notebook, Bellowing Ark, Pegasus Review, The Illogical Muse, interviewed by Boston Literary Magazine (bostonliterarymagazine.com/Fall2007 Spotlight) and Reader’s Choice in the Fairfield Review. Recently, his collection of poems entitled Lunar Images, was set to music for Clarinet, Piano, and Narrator by Boston composer Dennis Leclaire and premiered at Del Mar College in Texas on November 5, 2010.  A Boston premier took place on March 7, 2011 at the Berklee College of Music. (michaelkeshigian.com)



 

back to issue 16

take me home