Leo Yankevich Poems

Hit Title Date Added
81.
The Exit

The heart would heal, blood not sour in the veins,
the philosopher's cave not dim in the skull,
the body rise, and in the light, forget its pains,
the once mad apes freed by the glorious wall.
...

82.
Poland, New Year’s Day,1982

The final snow of the year, riddled and hard,
assailed by wind and rain, still covers the field,
while heaven above, a milky upturned ashtray,
lingers like a promise never fulfilled.
...

83.
Drowning Man

This afterlife seven fluorescent clouds
sail the still sky mirrored in his mind.
And for a moment he truly sees
the vision gasping beyond his prayer.
...

84.
The July Sun Over Lebanon

She hears bombs raze the nunnery.
She hears F-16s on their way
back to Israel, to reload
new bombs sent from America.
...

85.
For An Old Flame

Do you recall how I would buy champagne
with subway tokens at the Benson store,
then lick it all up from your northern breast?
            You still wore boots from Bialystok
...

86.
Exile

He looks up at what pierces cloud,
but doesn’t know it’s epiphany—
this moment wind blows over sea
and dark’s forgiven in its tracks.
...

87.
Creature In The Corn

My grandson sees a creature in the corn,
a wolf at odds with fate, paws clasped in prayer.
Today he will have more than thin despair,
than dreams inside a kettle, old and worn.
...

88.
Grass

Before they built this mall and palace
I flourished longer than the clouds
remember; but it wasn’t malice
caused me to be replaced by crowds.
...

89.
Moose

A little slow and thick around the waist,
she was fond of wading in the muck.
Always late, she would walk into class,
then take her place behind a nerd or geek.
...

90.
Poor Man's Diamond

I'd go out, see Agnieszka behind
the splintered greyness of the wind,
red maple leaves so close I'd touch
them in their resurrected flights.
...

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