Bares me this
Message — raveled hope of mail, re-routed
To our suburban forest. One scrawny pine bough
Flickered over sun-patch on the soon–to-slumber earth.
Next day dawned unseasonal — global warmth
Takes diverse narratives. I’ve forgotten the exact
Definition of String but I heard
A low whistle, quick rustle
Through the four-five curled leaves
(Remains of last month’s finery) seismic plunge
Prized tanager, red dash
From branch to grass
Singing me my portion, this day’s bliss.
Or just my damned tinnitus.
Patricia Ann Brody is a poet, whose two books are American Desire (FLP 2009) and Dangerous to Know (Salmon, 2013) mental health professional, Also Brody’s a 2004 graduate of Marilyn Hacker’s and Barry Wallenstein’s life-changing Creative Writing/English Lit Graduate Program at CCNY. Her poems in this issue of BigCityLit were selected by Nicholas Johnson with whom Patricia shared a delight-filled, tender friendship, lit by Nick’s gorgeous poetry soul. Nick’s life and work are a poem. Brody and husband Tom Kostro are parents of 3 grown children: Nick was a guest in our Wash Heights apartment and loved our family. Patricia’s daughter Katrina Kostro’s artwork and sonnets were often chosen by Nick and can be found in past issues of BCL.
RIP darling Nicky, Write on. And on.