I Think of My Grandfather
on a cramped ship
headed toward Ellis Island.
Fog, fog horns for a
lullaby. The black
pines, a frozen pear.
Straw roofs on fire.
If there were postcards
from the sea there might
have been a Dear
Hannah or Mama, hand
colored with salt.
I will come and get you.
If the branches are
green, pick the apples.
When I write next, I will
have a pack on my
back, string and tin.
I dream about the snow
in the mountains. I never
liked it but I dream of
you tying a scarf
around my hair, your
words that white dust
Lyn Lifshin
Copyright © 2006
LYN LIFSHIN Just out from Lyn Lifshin: The Licorice Daughter:
My Year with Ruffian, Texas Review Press. Coming June: Another Woman Who
Looks Like Me. She has over 120 books & has edited 4 anthologies. Her last two Black Sparrow books,
Cold Comfort and Before It's Light won
Paterson Review Awards. Her website:
www.lynlifshin.com.
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