Mary  Lou  Buschi

M a r y   L o u   B u s c h i 

Persistence of Memory 

 —Salvador Dali

1

Worn-off legs

a watch resting 

like a saddle or face

bent over a bare branch.

A cloud of ants. 

2

My father’s hand

on his knee.

Lake

Light

Shadow

Quiet

3

Into the gate

of darkness,

bullets, bells, baskets of wood.

A head turning to stone.

4

Mother’s new teeth,

smiling at me 

from the kitchen window.

I smile back—

Then cry.

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