KS Culbreth

before the storm

before the storm
and before the storm
there were vagrants
in and over
the underground
west fourth crossing under
to west third
before the storm
to meet a cousin, walk
to thompson street
dinner, beers
and before the storm
two girls nervous, young
upon a step in a doorway
one fixing the other’s hair,
a storm and of a storm
I remember, I remember
and on the train heading
home, darkness settling
after the city leaving
later than usual
roselle park and cranford
netherwood and fanwood
westfield plainfield
dunellen, bound brook
bridgewater somerville
and raritan
those strange
lives scattering away
down the rain shined
streets stretching long
bright washes of green
red gold white and blue
during the storm
and during the storm
and to your car
solitaire in the large lot
crowded at dawn
to remember
yes to remember
and then a folk
song that guided you
seventeen years ago
through the storm
through the storm
at the bend the deadman’s
curve, the farmer’s corner,
in front of you the tall trees
the lichened maple
sweet gum, oak
and sycamore
tall, tall
and ever tall
with a flash the lightning
burns into your brain their
tall summer shape forever
forever and forever
and it is july 17
and the days grow dark
earlier and earlier
already, the days grow
shorter, stiller
the summer sky its
hot reds and orange
and strange, strange
the storm through the
windows and the music
old was new, even the anger
long past only a pause;
I wanted to give you a
gift at the risk of losing
it all, you and me and the
others we comfort, who
would see the gift and suffer
wanted to give you a gift
forever and forever
as I fear the soul
is nothing but our memories
our experiences and to understand
must be full and indexed
that salvation is one
forever experience
the heading under which
all the others fall
the gift as we are
surrounded by violent
death, one two three
and now four, violent
grim and twisted by
chance or confusion
a gift to you
while you stand over
my shoulder as I
pour on the glass
this quicksilver
out of the storm
and back into
to storm
a gift you may hold
forever, look upon with
disgust or disappointment
on the surface but cherish
like a secret
the secret gift
the silent storm
as we drift off to
sleep, window open
billowing, clattering
forever and forever
because you already
know but may be confused
not having confirmed
two in the storm
the roads, our skin
painted with quicksilver
our hair in the wind
away in the wind
lost lost as any
gant ever was lost
lost as the wind is gone
and after our reunion
after the others have
gone and I hold you
goodbye before the
storm one last storm
that carries us forever
and forever
and our embrace suddenly
I surprise you with a kiss
and then a kiss
and then a kiss
I hold you
and I hold you
kiss you
and kiss you
and kiss you
and the stun
pauses time
a moment for you
to enjoy before
conscience
pushes me away,
and you shake your head
disgusted, your heart
bounding, confirmed
the storm out of
the storm into
to remember
and to remember
forever
forever
and forever