Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Joan Metelerkamp

Where Are You

Where Are You

Where Are You

Schubert lieder – the moon up and the dogs
barking at who knows what
porcupine, skunk, rooikat – not so likely
(but midnight and off after a growl
              so strange so quick
              we are up and whispering in the passage)

moon up, dogs whistling their keen squeaking –
what seemed so urgent –
up, and off into the night –

what seemed so urgent
where are you
              somewhere in Schubert lieder
(I am thinking of the man my husband
never dreamt he’d want to meet, he dreams
he meets, two nights later, he dreams of his books
                           two nights after our conversation)

where are you, like a dream, and like Lesego
(whom I dreamt of loose and tender)
somewhere in German, in Schubert lieder –
Close

Where Are You

Schubert lieder – the moon up and the dogs
barking at who knows what
porcupine, skunk, rooikat – not so likely
(but midnight and off after a growl
              so strange so quick
              we are up and whispering in the passage)

moon up, dogs whistling their keen squeaking –
what seemed so urgent –
up, and off into the night –

what seemed so urgent
where are you
              somewhere in Schubert lieder
(I am thinking of the man my husband
never dreamt he’d want to meet, he dreams
he meets, two nights later, he dreams of his books
                           two nights after our conversation)

where are you, like a dream, and like Lesego
(whom I dreamt of loose and tender)
somewhere in German, in Schubert lieder –

Where Are You

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