fallen verses

I

The power went out this evening.
Some summer storm proved its power nearby.
After using the light of my cell phone
to find matches,
I lit several candles.
In the flickering light I listened
to the soft touch of raindrops on the ground.
I turned on some music-
fortunately these things operate by battery-
that may well be considered “romantic.”
In that world where clocks stopped,
I read poetry, and thought
that circumstance can be so sweet.
And I wished you were here.
Now, I will have to arrange this loss
of power once more
to share this moment of spontaneous perfection.

II

It is strange to look out
over a city with no lights.
Here and there are pinpricks,
little stars running on the fusion
of generators and batteries.
Cars shoot by like white and red comets.

I take this moment of silence
to reach out on these
momentarily dead wires
to tell you there is
one candle burning.

III

The rain has tiptoed away silently,
like a lover the morning after.
I lie here with my eyes closed-
it spares us both the embarrassment
if I do not notice
the sudden emptiness in the bed,
the coffee pot not being filled,
the lights remaining off.
The rain can return later,
or pass by me at work,
and we will pretend
this moment of intimacy
never happened.

IV

To the people that know us both,
the storm outside is nothing new.
They are already accustomed to me
flashing like a bolt of creativity
and counting the ever-increasing time
before you arrive.
… one, two, three, four. Two miles, then.

V

For the first time in three months
the incessantly blinking sign
right outside my window
is off.
With a sense of elation, I thought,
“At last! I can sleep without burying
my head beneath a pillow.”
Then, I quietly turned on my own
blinking light
so I could write this poem.