Spectral Dawn
John Vanderslice
-Hey, is Audrey working tonight?
-No, she’s off
-Is Audrey working next week?
-No, she was swallowed up by the spectral dawn
Do you remember when we hiked Abbotts Lagoon?
Those shrieking white birds hovering over knotted winter dunes
Lay out those old photos on your bed and ask them why
and arrange them all in a family tree, remember me
-Hey, is Audrey working tonight?
-No, she’s off
-Is Audrey working next week?
-No, she was swallowed up
A gray heron lights off the salt water lake
and you were so willing to cut deep enough and just walk away
When I held your hand, I was crystalline
When I touched your skin, I was back again in the spectral night
Lay out those old photos on your bed and ask them why
and diagram your family tree but leave me out