Beyond the Frost
Richard Jordan
strawberries
on the icy deck
sliced fine
arranged
in a perfect row
for the old robin
that stayed
behind this winter
& also for
my mother
breathing
on the window
to clear away
thick frost
tapping me timidly
on the shoulder
asking me again
what kind of bird
& yes for me
a reason to wear
the red wool mittens
my mother knitted
forty years ago
she takes my hand
in hers
lifts it slowly to inspect
I hope her smile says
oh, I remember
on the icy deck
sliced fine
arranged
in a perfect row
for the old robin
that stayed
behind this winter
& also for
my mother
breathing
on the window
to clear away
thick frost
tapping me timidly
on the shoulder
asking me again
what kind of bird
& yes for me
a reason to wear
the red wool mittens
my mother knitted
forty years ago
she takes my hand
in hers
lifts it slowly to inspect
I hope her smile says
oh, I remember
Richard Jordan’s poems appear or are forthcoming in Southern Poetry Review, Rattle, Terrain, Cider Press Review, Connecticut River Review, Valparaiso Poetry Review, New York Quarterly, Gargoyle Magazine, Tar River Poetry, SoFloPoJo and elsewhere. His chapbook, The Squannacook at Dawn, won first place in the 2023 Poetry Box Chapbook Contest. He serves as an Associate Editor for Thimble Literary Magazine.
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