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/.

Leave A Comment