WINTER VISIT

after Hsiang Hung (1940-)

My head is white, my hair

cut short now.

When I look in the mirror

I hardly know who I am.

But that has been true for some time

even before I was sick.

I know you came to visit.

I don’t remember what we said.

“Fresh flowers,” you noticed

when I brought tea to the table.

I was happy the whole time you were here.

When you left,

I held the door open,

winter moon lighting snow

as you went.

Spring will come.

I don’t know if you’ll visit again.

On my desk for days

I’ve left the cup of oolong

your lips touched.

Patricia Kirkpatrick is the poetry editor of Water~Stone Review, and has poems forthcoming in Prairie Schooner, Poetry East, and as part of the “Everyday Sidewalks” project of Public Art Saint Paul. Her most recent book of poems is Century’s Road, from Holy Cow! Press.