DOPPELGANGER

Doppelganger,

you’ve been in place,
just beyond reach 

since first memory-

my advocate, my judge.

Unlike Mr.Gray’s monstrous portrait,

you grew with me to womanhood

then stayed young, vigorous, unsullied.

Your arm beyond my arm rests along the couch.

When I move on,

you come quietly behind me

but will not take the lead.

Bright path or tunnel?

The choice never defaults to you.

I’ve tapped malevolent shoulders,

taken the candy, trusted the fox,

and you've stepped away

to a safer, frowning distance.

You’ve triumphed, cried,

laughed, made love,

courted heartbreak,
through me and in gentler tones.

When all I can do is lie gasping, you revive me with cool grace,

until I’m able to catch my breath and resume the dance.

Poem about these days

Time Change in Florida

Used to be I’d keep busy.
Dreadful the time I spend sitting, standing,
staring. I lose track, now.

I believe it’s because he died.
It gets hold of me.

I’ll see him half on half off his bed,
a plaid blanket angled over his back and legs,
held tight in his gray fist. I might stop to think
about his being cold on an August Sunday
or I guess Saturday because he’d been dead a day
before I found him.

Time slides by while I rock or sway a bit.
Think about things.

Wonder if I’ll stay slow like this?
Feels like it.