turtle diary

They float in seeming silence
We see glass and dream the rest
So the film opens, and how many,
ten, eleven years ago we sat
in the cold, dark air watching
the screen, hands touching
and dreaming the rest

We lived 400 miles apart.
but something was kept,
A rosebud in a cooler,
through the glass

Three years ago at Christmas
you had gone to Peru,
Gone grey and robust
and more blue-eyed than ever.
I reached into your sleeping bag
and felt your warm skin, said
"let's have an affair," in the driveway
while you packed your car
In the summer you sent me
a card from Ishpeming

In the end the lovers
drive the turtles to the sea.
They swim through the ethers
and become unseen

 

In memory of Paul Denn

POSTCARD FROM ISHPEMING


Cello: Martin Tillman. Guitar: Tony B. Keyboards: Kingfisher.

Composed and Arranged by Kingfisher
Engineered by Greg Townley
Produced by Kingfisher and Greg Townley