-Timeline-

In Boulder, Colorado

The mountains during twilight
Are draped Sun-colored at their peaks,

Bluing as night falls.

From the kitchen window of the house

Facing that way, this is the setting scene

As she washes the dinner dishes.

Everything exhales across Boulder

With careful disposition of the day's activities.

There's a quiet nature to this time
Inside the house not far from the mountains.

The dishtowel wipes her hands dry

And she looks around the kitchen

To be sure of everything.

Through the narrow hallway
Inside the small living-room

He cons the television's reception

Tuning its manufactured knobs,
And negotiating rabbit-ears
In figure eights as the kids
In full-faith of his process

Gather on the rug to stake their claims.

With the captivated audience in waiting
He slaps the television's cabinet on its side

With an open hand causing flashes of static.

He knows the routine like no other

And with the dishes stacked, she looks upon
The recurring timeline of the living room
Leaning her shoulder on the wall of the hallway.

Outside, the streetlights

Strengthen and soon

Blanch the stars with another
Kind of light and sound is altered and muted.

Inside, the kitchen is dark and ready for morning.

Outside, the mountains begin their retreat

From the glancing windows of Boulder.

Inside, he asks without interest

If she’s finished in the kitchen.

From the hallway's arch 

She smiles and thanks him for the help.

At our house in Fall River, Massachusetts
These things are two hours done,

Noisily articulated through each procedure.

Outside, as seen through the parlor's windows

The darkened baseball park across the street

Is two hours empty.

                                      Boulder, 1953
                                      Quequechan, 1953