Fireplace ...

     Nested in the ashes,

                         Throbs a glow:

I remember into it

How your hair

Broke away from steel pins

And wandered

Across the tire-flung path

Where late day

Lit sneezes on a fine dust

Peppered road.

I almost smacked your

Smiling cheek,

Thinking it might be

Too near a flame.

I didn't flinch my wrist,

just my eyes.

Still that was enough

For you to laugh

And call my name—

“What?” I never

Told you how frightful

Beautiful you were,

That moment in the side-light

Particulate air.

But I like to imagine,

Anyway, you knew.

As I watch the logs lie dark

or glow, through grey fluff,

And crackle a final

Spark or two.