Spectral Dawn - John Vanderslice

Is Audrey working tonight?

No she’s off

Is Audrey working next week?

No, she was swallowed up by the spectral dawn

Do you remember when we hiked to Abbotts Lagoon

Those shrieking white birds hovering over knotted winter dunes

Lay out those old photos on your bed and ask them why

And arrange them all in a family tree

Remember me

Is Audrey working tonight?

No, she’s off

Is Audrey working next week?

No, she was swallowed up she’s long gone

A grey hair alights off

The salt water lake

And you were so willing

To cut deep enough and just

Walk away

When I held your hand I was crystalline

When I touched your skin I was back again

In the spectral night

Lay out those old photos on your bed

And ask them why

And diagram your family tree

But leave me out