Corner Bones

"Corner Bones II"*

The tea was poured,

The chair set near the hearth,

The book opened to the next chapter.

All was ready.

In the firelight,

The bones winked and flashed.

They were always there now,

Crouched In the far corner of the room.

On soft May nights

When the scent of lilacs

Crossed the sill,

Spawning reverie,

Phantom moonlight

Washed them opalescent.

They were always there now,

Stirring when the phone rang,

Then resettling to the drone of daily talk.

At night, they migrated into dreams,

Settled in the shadowed nooks

Of unknown railway stations

Where frantic seekers

Of misplaced backpacks

Recognized them.

They were always there now,

Shifting just enough to catch the eye

Set on being elsewhere cast.

On summer days when sunlight

Honeyed hardwood floors,

Inviting bare feet to leap and dance,

They snared their share of gold

And tempered pleasure,

Grounding those who thought to soar.

They were always there now,

Hunkered, bent, and glinting,

Always leaching peace.

"Corner Bones"**

* Layering of Vitor Antunes Photograph and partial image from Scott Ketcham painting
      • Vitor Antunes "The Dark Corner" Flickr, May 28, 2011: https://www.flickr.com/photos/janeladeimagens
         /7558233640 
     • "Loam" by Scott Ketcham: http://www.scottketcham.com/post/155923357652/555-loam-2017-46-x-31-oil-
        on-denril 
 ** Layering of Sylvia Plimack Mangold painting and Scott Ketcham painting:
     • Brutvan, C. A. (1994). Floor with light at noon, 1972. In The paintings of Sylvia Plimack Mangold (p. 52).  
       New York: Hudson Hills Press, in association with the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. 
     • "Loam" by Scott Ketcham: http://www.scottketcham.com/post/155923357652/555-loam-2017-46-x-31-oil-
        on-denril