Nothing Gold
Nothing gold can stay.
— Robert Frost
And nothing else can stay, either–
not the pay phone or parking meter,
not the coo and keck of the passenger
pigeon or the ambivalent lover
returning to his wife. A banner
saying Everything Must Go sags over
the failed restaurant supply store.
A plane takes off with a living brother
and lands with a dead one. Another
black car arrives at the gates. Dear
anyone, tell me how to hear
the sea’s consoling murmur
as it withdraws, then savages the shore.
Tell me how to love the nevermore.
*
Kim Addonizio has published over a dozen books of poetry and prose. Her most recent poetry collection is Exit Opera (W.W. Norton). Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life was published by Penguin. Her poetry has been widely translated and anthologized. Tell Me was a National Book Award Finalist. She teaches Zoom poetry workshops in Oakland, CA. https://www.kimaddonizio.com
Great poem from a master of the genre.
Brilliant use of mono-rhyme nonce sonnet.
Deceptively simple – poignant and musical.
The last line is a perfect close to the poem.
Another great poem by Kim Addonizio!
Masterful, Kim. As per usual.