by Chance Chambers

Mandolins

I dreamed of mandolins and dulcimers
And music machines I had never seen;
I saw your grandmother's trailer and
The steps where I waited for you.

I saw you run to your door from my
Car, naked under my suit jacket;
I dreamed of mandolins and a lazy eye,
Turned up nose and country frequencies.

Waking
To a hum no
One speaks of,

Suicide cults
And dancing lights,
Last century watchers
And silken cyber threads
Of nothing; this bastard
Textbook future is
A world away from
You
With me
Then

As we drove
From a wedding
Party, your dress
Under the bucket seat.
The free champagne was
To blame you said,
Half-eyed smile, 
Stockings pushed
To the floorboard.

Suddenly I turn the wheel so slight;
For a second, another mailbox looked
Like a person. Focus comes with a
Double string drone from the dash;
I try ignore the empty seat
Next to me.

Jan F's comment on this poem [link]