a poem to anticipate the inauguration with
find companions to witness & commune
The Only Ones
by Harryette Mullen
Seekers occupy
the roof, gather remnants of
whipped clouds. As twilight
deepens, pallid moon’s
bathing in an ocean of
indigo. Are we
the only ones still
sharing this intimacy
of reflection when
life strikes a plangent
chord in the hollow heart of
a wounded guitar?
Alone on rooftops,
attentive sentries in realms
of solitude, we
follow tomorrow,
standing ready to welcome
the improbable.
published in Poetry, September, 2023
Art: The Black Cat by Aubrey Beardsley, 1901
Creative Invitation
What does it mean to stand ready to welcome the improbable? Draw that space.
How do you find your fellow seekers? Write a numbered recipe.
When is the last time you stood, or sat, on a roof? Tell the story.
I think of the Alamo with no judgement about which side is right or wrong and the singular sound of a trumpet playing taps. That plangent chord in a moment of merciful peace. Still hoping for a miracle. (Love that new word plangent)!!