Dates

He was killed January 17th, 1994—
Every day from then on
he's been dead

he's dead today too

it's Friday
February 24th, 1995.

Every day I have a transcendental experience—
When I go to the bathroom at night
I notice a shadow rising in the mirror
over my left shoulder

it isn't mine

I turn and
what do I see?

My eyes open
in sleep—
a raven has landed on my table
and in a human voice says:
Cherries will be ripe in Sarajevo the 17th of May

I heard
and I'm waiting

From SARAJEVO BLUES (City Lights Books, 1998)