Bill Albert 1942-2020

dancing on the edge

 

Joy is a friend 

I have met but once

and have known

all my soul’s life

dancing on the edge

 

the bodies

are still and hurt

and yet, look

how we sing and dance

lighter than any air

 

the fates may crush

us to penguin dust

but cannot

break our hearts or quiet

our radiant visions 

​

there's no magic dust 

in the empty bottles

on the doorstep -

just an old zombie, sitting

waiting for the night

 

the bellboy winks

the old zombie smiles

a mouth full

of rotting gums to

greet a blood-red moon

 

in the morning 

they have both vanished 

and we hold

one more day to smell

sweetness of new-mown lawns

​

Bill Albert/Joy McCall

​