JOHNMICHAEL SIMON POETRY

One day we will rescue

the good ones from the fire

the ones that did not get burnt so badly

 

Then we will sit somewhere

under a leafy tree and eat them

and I will bring you a plate of sweet apple slices

and a little jar of honey

 

and some blueberries 

because I remember how you love them

 

And we will laugh

at how tall the grandchildren have grown

and we'll look at some old photos

of places we traveled to

 

And avoid talking about

how we cursed one another

while throwing the chestnuts in the fire

blaming each other for allowing the fire

to get out of control

burning our fingers

 

Cursing and stamping our feet

as the flames leaped wildly

and the house caught alight

 

We could have ran to fetch water

and put out the flames

but we didn't - just sat there

like Nero, cursing and blaming

while Rome burnt down

 

And one day

it won't even matter at all

 

And the grandchildren

will visit our graves

yours over there, mine somewhere else

 

And someone will produce

a book we once wrote together

and laugh at the funny stories