flashquake - Summer 2002 Poetry - Honorable Mention: Family Portrait by John Horváth, Jr.

flashquake Poetry

flashquake
Family Portrait
by John Horváth, Jr.

White rose on a multihued background. Family Portrait by John Horváth Alois Erszabet a Lengyel of Nyirbator
wed Ali the soldier from Novy Pazar.

Winter westerlies bring white flowers
into iron dust red tinged mornings where
from the battle of pipes stream dark men
like flushed crows off strings
of wire between poles

The old jew does as he must,
busily occupied measuring the stiff
old soul for black suit and leather
shoes he shall wear only once.
Soft leather to tread on the carpet
of angels at the banquet of destiny.
His widow unknots a hanky to pay
for the trip to birch planted park.

Pretty old white headed crow
in startling make-up of red
and gold wings, kiss goodbye
the cheek that so many tears
had run away down. I will wait

thinking cold already October
and clouds of mists
from the ovens form flakes
in hard air to rain on us
pulled by our forelocks
into this picturesque pose

El male rachamin