Poems by Garrett R. Bruner

Ghosted Ship

Eyes drifting, they rest now, gazing in the silver horizon,
            the shroud of heavy clouds softening the day.
All morning, I’d been looking for something out there. Searching
            each boat, until I lost them around the
mountain coast, until, the next one appeared, almost
            out of the blue. For a moment, it seems
almost a ghost, maybe the ship I’ve been waiting
            all my life for, to take me where you are.
Like the last, I lose it, too. The clouds close in,
            a gray rose from them, sinking all hopes of
seeing you. The sea empties the sky of color.
            The sun seems dead tired to pass these hours.
Amidst the clouds, it drains us as well, in need of its emptiness—
            its going dark mirrored on the water.

Burning Memories In

Maybe, while on the journey, it’s best to jot these day’s dreams down,
            instead of making one more nightmare up.
Maybe, I’ll regret it all, when memories of this island blur instead
            of burn their images clear in my head.
But maybe, that’s just it. For now, it might be best to let
            each day go and recollect it later.
To forget it will haunt you, to realize the journey gives way where
            you might never return, so lighthearted
as those days we found ourselves there. There, we treasured discovering the good
            it did us, taking away this beauty—
to catch a sunset off Ischia, the coal black water breathing in
            its burning glow, each wave bidding farewell.