Chill Comfort

The sun rose, burned off the mist,
morning serene as a tranquilizer the dream,
busy traffic with its happy sound,
my stomach pleased with breakfast,
coffee aromatic, hot, waiting—
what more could I want?
An empty eggshell feeling
leaves me in a hollow of time,
pen heavy as a crowbar, paper blank
denies meaning to black marks.
All this because the damned telephone
said I couldn’t see you today?
I look out the window,
even the bird feeder is empty.

    Original Citation

    Virginia Quarterly Review 52 (Winter 1975) 72.

    Word Count
    80
    Original Publication
    Date Published
    1975
    Book Appearance
    Complete Poems
    272
    First Line
    The sun rose, burned off the mist,
    Poetic Form
    open