POEM FOR ARTIE by Tom Konyves

the dead poet
could not announce his passing
his thoughts were no longer evident
(cars honk, does he hear them?)
he did announce something
…broken telephone…
it twisted my ankle
into an awkward angle
so I skipped a few feet
and ran a few more
until the sun
emerged from the clouds
with its most insubstantial, gentle touch
approached me
doucement
and we compared stories from our lives
of moments when no one was listening
because the front tires burst
onto the curb, with an exclamation – Artie!