Side By Side (Day 47)

Side By Side

Side-by-side, each opening 

a door, they cross the threshold—

familiar, but unsurprisingly foreign. 

She talks without saying much.

Appearing to listen, he wordlessly 

nods and shakes his head, eyes 

fixed on an invisible horizon—

though not unpleasantly so.

He is tall. She wears a black 

wool pea coat. Over the years, 

they have come to resemble 

each other: hair disheveled, similar 

wire-rimmed glasses, the same 

brand of comfortable shoes.

One might easily imagine that they 
pass each other detective novels 

in bed; that he chooses the music; 

and, when they eat out, 

he finishes the food on her plate,

without asking. They cannot linger 

here, where tawdry is casual, and 

casual, elegant; where the big sky 

is purchased at the bargain rate 

of irreversible closure; where small 

thoughts appear to take up 

all the space in the world. 

So, they add milk to their coffee, 

stirring, tasting, and, as they step 

back into the murky afternoon, 

they say: Please, if we ever have to 

live in a place like this, just kill me,

instead. Their laughter is awkward.

Neither will admit to feeling

the dreaded heft of the ropes 

settling around their shoulders, 

even now.

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six

Daisies & Newspapers (Day 46)

 

We fancied daisies 

and daily 

newspapers, 

unlocking 

their common patterns. 

We rustled 

vigorous characters, 

remembered 

the mellifluous middle 

passages of the mind—

most often 

convinced of nothing 

that was 

possible, 

but needing,

and hiraeth,

and need.

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six

Love Bloomed (Day 45)

 

Like an eternal break of day,

Sun perpetually dawning—

Forever new—love bloomed.

Like the silencing, in an instant,

Of a tumbling sea, love 

Frightened and astonished me.

Like seeing the mystery of 

Every summer that ever 

Beguiled the earth, revealed 

In a single resplendent smile, 

It delighted and inspired me.

Everything we know will, 

Some day, come to an end. 

Even death will be unable 

To escape itself. Still, 

Throughout my life, as I grow 

Old and wise—and beyond 

Even the end of the end—

My enchanted heart will always 

Whisper the name of my one, 

My truest love.

(c) 2017, by Hannah Six

Note:

While you'd never know it, I want to acknowledge that "Love Bloomed" was inspired, in a roundabout way, by the following untranslated poem. (I speak only a few words of Spanish,
but love how Becquér's language affected the rhythm and pacing of my lines.)

AMOR ETERNO

Podrá nublarse el sol eternamente;

Podrá secarse en un instante el mar;

Podrá romperse el eje de la tierra

Como un débil cristal.

¡Todo sucederá!

Podrá la muerte

cubrirme con su fúnebre crespón;

pero jamás en mí podrá apagarse

la llama de tu amor

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer