Lapsed in the Grain

By Joe Albanese

Its light grows on summer being—hoped

and demented, forced and forgotten

Its hunger hides in lamenting autumn—placed

and re-placed, gone from the donning

Heroes rise on fallen thunder—cupped

ears dropping, lifetimes laughing

Guarded by the morning humming—lost

in damnation but found in its wishing

The year of our lord was a far-off not coming—torn

from the ashes, learned from its nothings

Hope was born from the hazing unfounded—burnt

in asylum, caught in denial

Vengeful still lies in the kindness ungrowing—lapsed

in the grain of what once was unwanted

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Joe Albanese is a writer from South Jersey. His work can be found in publications across the U.S. and in ten other countries. He is the author of Benevolent King, Caina, Smash and Grab, Candy Apple Red, For the Blood is the Life, and a poetry collection, Cocktails with a Dead Man.

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