[Critique Group 1] Sally's February submission

[sanford.rosenthal at comcast.net]

Worn down by decades of cardiac illness

and drained by an unknown infection

that will send him back to intensive care 

before this frigid, bleak day ends,

the man asks his wife of fifty years

to drive them to the river that,  

 in warmer seasons, flows by their town.

 

Frozen with no imminent thaw,

the Susquehanna, dreary now, reminds him

of better times when he fished for trout,

chugged beer, and played cards in buddies' cottages. 

 

Come Spring, trout will jump again.

The clink of bottles and the laughter of friends 

will ring out on Summer evenings.

Is my brother's wish to visit the river off-season

a momentary answer to cabin fever

or one last look, dreaming 

of times that will not come again? 

 

                                                          By Sally Rosenthal

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