From Beyond Poem by Jose' Antonio Orellana Artolozaga

From Beyond—

I remember my father sitting
On a bench. His khaki shirt
Soft filled so with life,
Rolled up at the elbows, sleeves
Bearing shapely forearms
Breeze barely bristling the hair
O’er his olive light shade of skin.
I can still see the
Gentle heaving of his breathing
Briefly lifting, dropping
O’er buttons buttoned
From the top starting at
The second button hole fastening
Draped loosely fitted fabric
Down to his waist belted pants
Dress-pleated and pressed black.
It’s someday in some summertime and
I sense the strength of his
Presence: features splaying a
Spanish face in its gaze
Dwells the smoldering blaze.
He was like that in the best of days,
Stern-hard blending empathy
And in my mind when I close my eyes
I sense the touch of his nearness
But his proximity hits home
More so when I think about things, mull
Them over as I place a finger
O’er my mouth, a gesture
Become a habit I resort to and
Breathing in I smell my skin, his skin
Scent of our flesh slightly
Cologne misted, risen from beyond

©2009 j.a.o.a.

©2009 Jose' Antonio Orellana Artolozaga