There’s a dark lake
on the other side of
the garden
There’s a halfmoon
of rusted orange
and a slow deep hush
I thought someone
was here with me
listening to
the irises and
chrysanthemums
but not even I am here
as I drown again
in memory and
tides of silence
I see a shadow
take the stars
I thought I had
time left
but all that
is over
Dawn is coming
but the garden
is always dark
| Alexander Etheridge has been developing his poems and translations since 1998. His poems have been featured in The Potomac Review, Museum of Americana, Ink Sac, Welter Journal, The Cafe Review, The Madrigal, Abridged Magazine, Susurrus Magazine, The Journal, Roi Faineant Press, and many others. He was the winner of the Struck Match Poetry Prize in 1999, and a finalist for the Kingdoms in the Wild Poetry Prize in 2022. He is the author of, God Said Fire and Snowfire and Home. |  |