errol miller
FAR FAR AWAY
For Sylvia Plath
Sonic adventure
from the bell jar, Sylvia
did you cross the water
did you cross the water unattended
black light, black night, it was raining
I presume when you arrived
I must have been asleep
going sixty inside
my forgotten business on the dresser
this year the poppies were beautiful in Boston
next year they may change
blank-faced I too stare at the future and laugh
my life on no higher ground than yours
gathering the smooth round stones of hurting
I have stacked them in a secret place for literature
cataloging each one separately
lately late at night I go out to sea
and pause and wait and think
of how it must have been:
passing your soul darkly through glass
vaguely seeing the end of the tunnel
looking on and looking out I swear
I thought I heard you gasp
nodding to myself
chalk-fingered and soggy
and pale as the bone white china
of your poetry.
