Moon Duplex

                          —after Jericho Brown

A full moon in December is called a Cold Moon

Says my old friend worried in New York

He’s worried his wife will sail away from him

A tearing sound coming from their country

The tearing is behind the silhouettes

Dressed for cold hurrying on dark streets

On icy streets where she frets and rushes

Because her empty heart founders the ship

Because her heart calls him across a causeway

The cars block out the clatter of disrepair

The stars block out the chatter of despair

Her back is bent against the cold

She straightens her lovely back a silhouette

He says today is a Cold Moon