“The old man had paid dearly/he could still get lost in dreams”
This was not a novel
no need for pages of exposition
no other characters necessary
only he and the woman
setting was no more
than this bed
the theme was not to be analyzed
nor criticized
it was just this moment.
The old man had paid dearly
he could still get lost in dreams
though his feet remained cold
to lie by this naked woman
this woman sleeping
listen to her soft breathing
detect the subtle pulse
pretending she was a partner
make the night last.
Ray Greenblatt is an editor for the Schuylkill Valley Journal and teaches a “Joy of Poetry” course at Temple University-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. His most recent book of poetry is From an Old Hotel on the Irish Coast. His book reviews have been published by the Dylan Thomas Society, John Updike Society, and Joseph Conrad Today.
