WINTER 2006

Three Minutes

December 28, 2005, Barnegat Lighthouse

Sondra Ball
Mickleton MM

These wild waters wash against these dunes
while a seagull flies above.
A child runs on sand
toward a leafless beach plum tree
and toward me.
Her eyes are afraid,
full of terror and torture
and of roaming midnight hands.

I saw those eyes in a mirror once.
I recognize them.

But I know.

She stops for a moment beside me.
"It will be all right," I say.
"A powerful woman awaits you in your future."

But she is too young to believe me.

Her father calls to her
in that smooth voice
that tells watching strangers,
"My touch is gentle in the dark night,"
and tells the trembling daughter,
"Come with me into darkness."

I recognize the voice.
I have heard it before.

She runs toward him
into the coming night;

while I walk my love beside her.

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Poem copyright © 2006 Sondra Ball
first published in Autumn Leaves, November 2006

Copyright © 2006, Salem Quarterly Meeting
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Last modified: Monday, November 20, 2006 at 06:08 PM