Pentecost....In Memory Of Mandelstam...For M Poem by r james sterzinger

this night
this terrible dark night
I walked alone into the kitchen
turn on the light. From the hole
in the screen a moth had wedged
himself in. His legs hairy, his wings
dark, he has become excited
by the light. I get a glass of water.
I drink deep, he stays focused on
the light like God.

today you and I had tea
we talked about many things
I focused on my deep depression
you listened. I knew you had never
heard me that dark, that lost
that ominous it was like I was already
rattling my bones in an ossuary
somewhere.I looked into your eyes
I knew you heard me You
understood where I was
coming from.

I open the window
let him flutter about the room
up to the bulb
dancing under the halogen flame
like he knew what Pentecost
was all about.

Then I shush him out
the door into the night.
he and I have an understanding
about grace