Owl
Len Kuntz
This morning
I find you
on the sofa
flush and wearing
only skin
But Honey, I say
where’s your robe?
Your owl-eyes stay
pin-stuck on the carpet
lips tremulous and a
dull shade of periwinkle
making me shiver
and ashamed of myself
The kids’ll be here soon.
Your head cocks
Our kids, you say
and I don’t know if
that’s a question
or confirmation
Randy and Ava, yeah.
You blink again owl-like
I don’t trust them.
I find a blanket and swaddle you
thinking about trust
love’s lank leash
the luggage at the door
the knock that’s
soon to come
the shifting limbs of conversion
memory and loss
Len Kuntz is a writer from Washington State and the author of four books, most recently the story collection, THIS IS WHY I NEED YOU, out now from Ravenna Press. You can find more of his writing at http://lenkuntz.blogspot.com