William Greenway
Optimist
It’s the first thing I see
every morning, there by the mouth
of the washbasin, Opti-Mist
Lens Cleaner, what clears
away dandruff and drops
of sneeze, some of all
we lose in a day. I never know
if it’s half full or half empty.
The first time I saw my aunt since
I was a child, she said, “I can’t believe
you’re so happy―your poems, so
much sadness.” For now we see
through a glass darkly, the Bible says.
Whatever, my students say.
We wipe the windows of our days
and hope to see something good
glimmering through the dust,
shimmering in desert heat,
maybe some palms
heavy with the dark eyes
of dates, lipping
a little water.
William Greenway’s tenth collection, The Accidental Garden, is forthcoming from Word Press. His ninth collection, Everywhere at Once (2009), winner of the Ohioana Poetry Book of the Year Award, is from the University of Akron Press Poetry Series (2003). He has published in Poetry, American Poetry Review, Georgia Review, Southern Review, Poetry Northwest, Shenandoah, and Prairie Schooner.
Return to May 2013 Edition
It’s the first thing I see
every morning, there by the mouth
of the washbasin, Opti-Mist
Lens Cleaner, what clears
away dandruff and drops
of sneeze, some of all
we lose in a day. I never know
if it’s half full or half empty.
The first time I saw my aunt since
I was a child, she said, “I can’t believe
you’re so happy―your poems, so
much sadness.” For now we see
through a glass darkly, the Bible says.
Whatever, my students say.
We wipe the windows of our days
and hope to see something good
glimmering through the dust,
shimmering in desert heat,
maybe some palms
heavy with the dark eyes
of dates, lipping
a little water.
William Greenway’s tenth collection, The Accidental Garden, is forthcoming from Word Press. His ninth collection, Everywhere at Once (2009), winner of the Ohioana Poetry Book of the Year Award, is from the University of Akron Press Poetry Series (2003). He has published in Poetry, American Poetry Review, Georgia Review, Southern Review, Poetry Northwest, Shenandoah, and Prairie Schooner.
Return to May 2013 Edition