JUDITH FORD

ROGER’S HOUSE
By
Judith Ford

See how ice coats
tree limbs
there where wind
has taken
the top of the hill
warm air
settles down deep
in the valleys
trees spark
in car head lights
and in wind
the clack
of many metal bracelets
on pale skinny arms

​

your house sits alone
on this high hill
so trees you planted
to catch hold
of wind
bend breaking
under tight clear sleeves
of ice
they spark and glitter
and catch
my breath
with the wind
that breaks them

I am ashamed
I like
glitter and shine
I so like
glitter
I should
know better

​

when cold came
they were drained
ready

no one knew
it would come
to this

​

quiet sparks
deep inside
tight, hard
ice

​

I like
the shine

​

inside your house
it’s cold
there are
drained places

​

standing
by the window
have you heard
the crack
of tree trunks
in wind
that glitters
and shines

​

I should
know better.

​

       From Burning Oak, some poems,
       by Martin J. Rosenblum &  Judith Marks (Ford)
       Fifth place winner in Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, 1986