Becoming Stage Three

    by David Anthony Sam

I sit attached to poisonous hope

in a clarity of sterile light from

too transparent windows.

My hours here slow to this

book I page through while

the rest of life compresses.

The asp I clasp to my breast

sometimes lisps fire, sometimes

is silent. I embrace its moods

and wait for its venom to

abandon me of hair and leave

me auraed in glowing scalp.

Through brittle glass a sudden

fall of mockingbird to earth

flashes in white, wild wings —

It rises to some hidden perch

and calls three times, then

three times more before

my eyes close on a too bright

light. I shut my book, feel nothing

but the brilliance of this day.

© 2016  David Anthony Sam

David Anthony Sam has written poetry for over 40 years and has two collections, including Memories in Clay, Dreams of Wolves (2014). He lives in Virginia with his wife and life partner, Linda, and currently serves as president of Germanna Community College. In 2014-15, he had poems accepted by American Tanka, Artemis Journal, The Birds We Pile Loosely, Carbon Culture Review, The Crucible, FLARE: The Flager Review, From the Depths, Heron Tree, Hound, Literature Today. On the Rusk, Piedmont Virginian Magazine, The Scapegoat Review, The Summerset Review, and The Write Place at the Write Time.