Gabriel Arquilevich The 2River View, 7.1 (Fall 2002)
Shim

Heartbroken

People seem to think they know
everything about poison oak,
about runaway horses and floating balloons;

what about nosebleeds
at recreation parks
or some dying animal on a Thursday afternoon?

You see, the day was long
and full of dragons
sweeping over the cobwebbed moon,

(I would have run that beagle over
if I could, lingering
in the dark barns, in the wet country)

and I want the time I held you
cloudlessly, your original
eyes, your hands.

I could continue in this aching horizon
or dismiss you as one
thumps on the sun with a hammer.

Shim
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