Spectral Dawn

-Hey, 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 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 -Hey, is Audrey working tonight? -No, she’s off -Is Audrey working next week? -No, she was swallowed up A gray heron lights 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 --- Spectral Dawn - John Vanderslice