The Mailman

Before his knocking hand reached my door,
Frightening the hungry fox,
Till coroner put sun to bed,
How still my eyes.

As though, goodbye moon,
Why day begins!
Why day begins?
Even though no sleep came.

Because the mailman cometh.
Wherever lonely day dawns.
Because yesterday never ended.
Just as sleep never came.

Hungering dried stomach for day,
As if stomach denied
Since mailman arrived.
Since eyes never shut.

Once bring letters of purpose.
“What of today?”
“Joy or tears fill dusty waves?”
Why mailman cometh
Bringing monotonous days.

Giving letters of daily purpose.
Because our request,
Longing to know purpose.
Grasping for our commissions.

 

April Palmer

VT

YWP Alumni

More by April Palmer

  • The Yellow Flower


    Mamma, I saw a flower,
    O sitting on our sink,
    Reflected against the marble,
    Just begging for a drink.

    And, Mamma, it was so pretty,
    O sitting on our sink,
    Bathing in its yellow bloom,
    As though I was the sun!
  • My company

    Myself and me keep company
    Only twice a week
    With the shadows of Loneliness
    Between the pages of my books.

    And once a week, I drink tea
    With the pretty chrysanthemums of Sorrow
    Who takes her tea bitter