The Future Melts

You could hold it in your mouth

like chocolate.

What comes of this is desire, and if you taste it

what comes is plenty, it is so sweet.

Then what comes

is that point of stillness inside the body.

That is why cats are so liquid.

That is why the leaf

floats down and down in the warm air though it is fall,

and thoughts slow like a train

coming to a halt in the middle of a cornfield,

at night, in October, with starlight shining down.

You could get off here in the darkness with the others

quietly talking and looking up at the stars,

whose light has traveled from so far away

and so long ago.

©2009 Janet MacFadyen

Listen to Janet MacFadyen's reading of "The Future Melts"

Janet MacFadyen is the author of the book-length poem, "A Newfoundland Journal," and a chapbook, "In Defense of Stones." She lives in Shutesbury.

"Hear a Poet, There a Poet" features poetry by local authors chosen by Northampton's Poet Laureate Lesléa Newman. It runs on Wednesday's book page every other week. Poems for this column have been pre-selected. Please do not send poetry submissions or requests to the Gazette.