vigilante
big flake snow
covered the grave and the body
they had left in their haste
and the strawberry vine
grew up from his heart
over his neck and into his eyes
entwining his ankles and forearms
and winter sparrows flew down
to wonder at the stain
upon the sacred snow.
Patrick T. Reardon
4.10.19
This poem originally appeared in Aardwolf magazine in February, 1970.
Written by : Patrick T. Reardon
For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.