Author Archives: tamolantern@gmail.com

Too Young to Know One day, my father chopped down The old apricot tree Which used to live in my parents backyard. My father deflected my anger at him With a look I heard Muddy Waters sing: Y’all too young … Continue reading →

Wish In my dream, my car is an aquarium. I’m on the hood, prone, looking in, wondering how I could ever drive again. It’s evening, my interior lit with tropical fish & desire for a new life. I didn’t know … Continue reading →

The New Moon Hold on to me. We will slip carefully carefully don’t tip it over into this canoe pale as birch bark and with the stars over our shoulders paddle down the dark river of the sky. Do not … Continue reading →

Family Portrait Before the picture man comes Mama and I spend the morning cleaning the family room. She hums Motown, doles out chores, a warning – He has no legs, she says. Don’t stare. I’m the first to the door … Continue reading →

A Meeting In a dream I meet my dead friend. He has, I know, gone long and far, and yet he is the same for the dead or changeless. They grow no older. It is I who have changed, grown … Continue reading →

Morning on the Island The lights across the water are the waking city. The water shimmers with imaginary fish. Not far from here lie the bones of conifers washed from the sea and piled by wind. Some mornings I walk … Continue reading →

After Whistler There are girls who should have been swans. At birth their feathers are burned; their human skins never fit. When the other children line up on the side of the sun, they will choose the moon, that precious … Continue reading →

Anchored Our anchor’s too big for our ship, So we’re sittin’ here tryin’ to think. If we leave it behind we’ll be lost. If we haul it on board, we will sink. If we sit and keep talkin’ about it, … Continue reading →