LINDA IMBLER

LINDA IMBLER

THE ARMY IN THE CLOUDS

All over the world,

people saw hovering in the sky,

clouds,

their outlines shaped as soldiers.

I saw them from my car,

but wanted a better look.

Pulling over, I got out and examined them.

Some were black, some were white,

and some had gone grey.

All around the planet,

there were vaporous outlines of all the soldiers

from all the wars throughout all the years.

While looking up at the sky, it started to rain -

rain falling as tears.

Wherever they were seen, their whispered chant was heard,

and they spoke softly as one:

“Do everything in your power to bring peace to the world

so that we may finally rest.”

EARWORM

Such a rainy day,

in this empty place,

and all I have left is this song.

Where are you tonight?

I miss you,

and I'm hearing the melody.

I put your name among the lyrics.

Your name,

now a necessary part of this string of words,

once our favorite.

A string of words

binding me to memory

of a happier time long past.

Our song,

played over and over again

within my head,

as I seek to explain

why I do not see you here

listening to it with me.

OLD AGE

It came, and we met it head on.

We stepped into the midnight taxi

and never flailing,

never failing,

we never forgot to love

and to live with utmost purpose.

We had thick skin

and were thick with memories.

Nature’s taxi,

yellow with age,

delivered us

to the place we had earned.

Face to face with the autumn of life,

it came, and we met it head on.

LINDA IMBLER