Darkness
like slabs of concrete
and now the sound of the black—
A slit bugle sound
drawing in stillness and quiet
Sketch me a picture of dark
with new chalk
and do not frame it
Hung along the black wall
the picture settles in—
eyes huge and perfect
Below a bloodstone darkens
then lightens
A conception of timed life
emerges uncracked
Roberta “Bobby” Santlofer (1943-2020) was a mother of sons, an avid reader, and a poet. A posthumous collection of her poetry is forthcoming. Santlofer’s poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Gargoyle, Philadelphia Stories, Grey Sparrow Journal, and elsewhere.
