What Soon Became Clear
Rumor came over the hills
like springtime, scattering shadow
and suddenly people knew
(odd amalgam of relief and regret)
Orestes was back! Oh!
There had been sightings here and there:
under the clematis-clad stoa,
a subtle finger of recognition, uplifted,
pleasant enough but dismissive-not friendly,
as much a waiver as a wave;
leaving the temple, a cool nod to an old friend
in passing, but he didn't stop, she complained,
to chat as he ought, being gone so long.
It was him, alright, but changed.
He no longer clowned in the agora with his friends,
drunk on privilege, pleased to be
a showy prince of the blood who shopped.
It was different, now, he seemed not to hear, when you said
'Hi, how's it going, man, do you remember when....'
He didn't seem to hear, but walked
Straight ahead, eyes fixed on the horizon,
Abstract, purposeful, dumb, a little scary,
answering minimally, questioned,
as if resolution, too, lay just over the hill
It was his destiny to scale.
Patiently, we waited
wondering where this change might lead.
poem by Morgan Michaels
Added by Poetry Lover
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