pastoral in negative space #1

this is not a patch of black iris blooming next to
cement steps—this is not the cement steps painted
spanish blue that lead to the back door painted
spanish blue—this is not the back door of the 1920s
farmhouse listing southwest as the ground shifts
timbers until west windows crack & south
windows break jagged—this is neither those
windows nor the absence of those windows,
abandoned as they may still open onto a dying
locust a post fence a dry pasture—this is not a
dry pasture this is not a pond overrun with cattails
this is not May when black iris unfurl this is not a
thing with a name in words except in these words

 
Jack Hayes
© 2015