Poem Scribbled in 1999

plants draw water from her hands
fingers taste the soil like soft chocolate cake
somewhere a leaf changing color
stops and falls

a symphony sadness
she’ll open her eyes to the sun

record needle breaks
the hum of his breathing
comes to a stop (to let through a soft purr)
skipping an absence

days. the same. moments of quiet,
broken by the screaming ending
(as badly as it began)