James H Duncan

Yeah, I couldn't resist adding a couple poems that take place in Albany in the hometown issue. Hope you enjoy.

Natural End

it feels right

to remember how much

I loved you

but how right it

was for things to find

their natural end,

a feeling that comes over

me and over me when I take

the path through the

cemetery forest

where the snow falls in

small thin folds

among the leaves and

headstones and

naked grey trees standing

alone, together

Attack

the cat came over on cool padded feet

and sniffed my scent once before sinking

its teeth deep into the muscle of my hand

of course my boot missed the scrambling

fury of spindly black legs dashing back

into the night, eyes dimming to nothing

bloodied raised lines etched a song into

my skin and a wailing into my teeth;

the pangs of evil made music so firm

now the streetlights show nothing but long

empty sidewalks with no homes and no

way to know north from south, east, west

yellow is a feeling in the bones, sickly sweet

and puss-filled with hallucinations;

water cannot wash away the sound of thunder

faucets run somewhere as hallways echo an order

in triplicate, the sleek walls hinting midnight,

the comfort of a white towel streaked with blood

as that cat breathes heavy in the night, foams wild

with anticipation of God’s seismic lacerations;

until then, eyes watch in silence, and the moon too

(Originally appeared in Dealing with the Devil in the Middle of the Road, 2012)