Poetry

Parting

I hold you like the earth's shadow
against me
Time becomes a slow star
on your cheek
a slow star falling
Even your eyes
cannot speak

My heart lifts
words like lanterns
to read you in the dark
I gather you like twigs
for a fire

You sit like the world
against me
you beat and beat
I long to keep your sweetness
in a jar

I cannot let you go
with the whole autumn
falling around me
the whole of autumn
showering the pavements
with stars

Cathy Zerbst