Consciousness tightens then falling away after
the move to the ocean address fixed within this
density a souvenir of vacation days speaking
the shape of words once forgotten now recalled
painting with pulses of light there is always
photographic evidence a deck a table with
angled edges the smell of salt in the breeze a dead
thing near the water’s edge where a metal jacket
had pierced its soul and all that still remains
is bone day’s end flaring orange redeeming
darkness until spinning back into morning
the new day dawning pearl dawning iridescent
the oven overflowing with the odor of breakfast
butter brushed and baked like a winter roll.
Poet and songwriter Paul Ilechko lives with his partner in Lambertville, NJ. He is the author of several chapbooks. His work has appeared in a variety of journals, including The Night Heron Barks, Feral Journal, K’in, Gargoyle Magazine, and Book of Matches. His first album, “Meeting Points”, was released in 2021.
Image by Adam Strong
Backwards Trajectory 