Five poems by Linda Rimel

"This often do in remembrance of me."
My beloved says, and be breaks brittle bread.
"Do this too." He holds tbe cup.
Our hands toucb. I take it up.
"Do this often," says he.
"In remembrance of me."
And I do.

"How mucb longer until you leave?"
I ask. Tbe open-mouthed kissing ends.
My lover smiles. "The important thing, dear,
Is that tonight you are here.
And, since tbis can't go on forever,
Promise you'll think of me by the river."
And I do.

I find myself beside the river.
Its music fills my bead
And nourrishes my soul
As surely as red wine and daily bread
Restore my body.
My lover is wise :
Knowing I must fantasize.
And of my nearly flawless memory.
He extracts a promise.
Trying to immortalize himself
Through me.
My beloved. wiser still
Knows even a grieving disciple will
Eat and drink daily.
Daily he prompts me,
In living love,
To write bis posthumous gospel.
To fulfill
His "Do this often" (said he)
"In remembrance of me.
Remember me forever."
I do. I will.
And faithfully,
I think of him by the river.

Ghastly, pink
Alarm clock
Perches on
The bed stand,
Keeping track of ev'ry
Tick until its time comes
(When you least
Expect it)
Screaming, it
Announces
Reveries are over
Reveille
Now rules !
Reveries are over
Reveille
Now rules !
Reveille
Rules and is
Followed by
Unending
Pace-setting
By the clock,
Who has not
Ever been
Late to an
Appointment!

How did we catch her?
The little one dreaming here now
In the cradle?
Daytime, she's an animated
Understudy of our ways.
Now, enveloped in that inscrutable
Serenity of hers
She dreams, and we wonder :
In the world that now inhabits her,
Is there a single corner
In which we would not be strange?
The aura fades; she sighs.
How did we catch her?

Roses and Sweet peas will wait.
Wait till the songbirds call them.
Birds will keep quiet till the morning.
Even the morning will wait.
Morning will wait until you wake,
Wait till you've danced in moonlight!
Do you see moonlight, my own,
When your eyes close?
Roses and sweet peas don't grow
Bright as the blooms you'll see tonight.
Rain in that garden soon will sing you
Music the songbirds don't know.
Morning will wait until you wake,
Wait till you've danced in dream light!
Dance in the dream light, my own,
Till the morning.