Wilily Poems | Examples

Beyond the Hall Light

I.
At Bredinsburg Road Cemetery 
the fence pillars 
stand arched 
on each side 
where the empty space of 
shoulder bone meets shoulder bone.

II.
I tread lightly
here,
tombstones
white chipped shale
scattered and tilted askew
flat like deli plates  
tossed wilily nigh 
lengthwise into the ground.

III.
Some, 
bear children’s names 
angel’s feathers rubbed off
by the wind’s thin unmeaning elbows,
huddle like baby teeth
dappled 
in the shadows
of wealthy marble monuments,
plaques that say
even in death we are above you.

IV.
Beneath 
my dampened sneakers
moss the consistency of marshmallow
squishes silently, 
a whimper 
of earth.

V.
Behind me
faint foot fall
like the murmur of an infant 
paddle
through the thick of dead leaves.