POETRY

Ice and Fire

Simon Jaques Rochard, “Lady Smith and Her Children.” Public domain courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The day Natalie left for Charleston,
Max sketched the scene on the sidewalk in chalk.
He frowns as he waves goodbye,
his arms arching over his head like weeping willow branches.
The car is drawn small,
as if it is far away.
That night I was afraid of the dark,
and I jumped at minute noises.