Dave Russo

All through the meeting, 
your calm face by the window.
Bright, darkening trees
It's late, the office 
almost empty. Your bare feet 
whisper by my door
   claw-hammer banjo  
a veteran plants his cane
   to dance
where does the time go squids of Wyoming
   summer stars . . .
old lusts come down
   a silk road
roasting a rattlesnake we talk about girls
summer's end— 
cicada buzz caught 
in the black cat's mouth
laughs at herself—
kitchen light through the grin
in her xray
into the earth; 
starflowers and her note 
in his pocket