Vow

Peter opened the book: a little city
was built inside, a way to see through
this gossip, the drinking of dipper to dipper.

But I don’t believe in fortune.

And then, in a moment of silence, staring
back at him from the binding,
was the deepest blue of ocean waiting to be wet.

We’re right behind you: a halo of winters.

We were leaving Geneva: a home green, a little
machina where someone sputtered out; sputtered out
words & it sounded clever.

No lip. No lip. Don’t you dare give me lip, tonight.

The music begins in rectory now: a mere
baptism of light, from one heavenly
triad to another someone.

Peter flipped the page: a little lamp as given name.

And somehow the narration disappears,
like a star in a black cloud, waiting
to orbit a finger in gold, a ring, a ring, crossing vows.

But I don’t believe in fortune.

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J Michael Wahlgren is the author of two chapbooks: Chariots of Flame (2007) & Pre-elixir (2008) both on Maverick Duck Press & the full-length poetry collection Silent Actor (BeWrite, 2008). He was influenced early on by the fiction of Hermann Hesse. He resides in Boston, MA where he edits & web designs Eight Octaves Review. J Michael studied philosophy for two years in upstate New York & returned to Boston to pursue other interests. He can be found playing guitar for his gray & white feline or reading an array of modern poetry.