The Innisfree Poetry Journal

www.innisfreepoetry.org

by Edward H. Garcia

Just a Note

Not a valentine or a poem,

trying to tell you in a new way

what I tell you so often.

Shall I say, “I have seen the lonely men in shirtsleeves,

Leaning out of windows . . .”?

J. Alfred, fearful, couldn’t go on,

but I know you would ask

a lonely man in shirtsleeves directions

and he would probably point with his pipe

pleased with himself that such a pretty woman

with a soft voice and kind eyes

liked him because you did,

and I wasn't jealous, except a little

because of the way he looked at you walk away,

but it is such a nice walk.

And For All That

“I feel nature is encroaching on me.”

This said pleasantly, signaling it is time

for me to mow or whip or pull.

I might explain, but don’t,

that we will never win.

I humor her and mow and whip and pull and

pick up dead branches just enough

for the illusion of order.

Wait a week and every cleared place

has grown a stubble of weed and vine.

In a year, clearing will be a memory.

The backs of my hands tell the same story.

I could tell her, but don’t, that I too feel

nature encroaching on me.