For Paula
In the late spring—June—before summer
descends—haze and mirage my father's
death left a hole in the pattern
I reached forward to make
meaning and we met at your office
Columbus Circle—the green park beckoning
tourists, natives, and thieves—we walked
to the restaurant—whose name
I can't recall—a diner—on 57th Street in the cool
dark booth the red leather banquettes
menus sized like the Times
we have a glass
of wine—white and crisp—order food
that quickly comes and my missing father
enlightened by death wore the 20th Century
like a map I am tracing the route in our
conversation you lost your father at 14—in the summer
before 10th grade—we four met once in the cold moon
starry winter on the corner
of Marlborough and Church
in front of the Temple Beth Emeth us, girls
in our maxi coats—yours forest green and belted
mine black, as every coat I ever bought—our fathers
standing in benign protection—on the verge—
in my reckoning the ghosts of childhood
remain incredulous and strong silent
and long-suffering beautiful
and terrible as memory herself.
For CR
My first love came
last night in the deepest
part of dark to welcome
me—and spoke of visits
yet to make, Capri
Sardinia and Calabria
the naval view
behind his tour of duty
now we talked
of time abridged
the decades
flipping fast from
where he first set sail
I stood lost
without redemption
with no amends
my first love came
once to whisper
goodbye
his death called me
to put a hold on time.
We never came
back, tonight the visit
lost, no bitter photo
left to share, together
Capri, Sardinia, Calabria
we never made it there.
Anne Elezabeth Pluto is Professor of Literature and Theatre at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she is the artistic director of the Oxford Street Players. She was a member of the Boston small press scene in the late 1980s and started Commonthought Magazine at Lesley 24 years ago. Her chapbook, The Frog Princess, was published by White Pine Press. She has been a participant at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference in 2005 and 2006. Her ebook, Lubbok Electric, was published by Argotist ebooks in 2012.
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