American River Review 2019 - Flipbook - Page 17
Langoliers and
Knitting Needles
Isabel Geerer
Langoliers are silver sparks at the edge of vision
flitting here and there like standing up too fast
consuming yesterday
everything you ever loved
like it never existed
leave behind a buzzsaw whine
like electricity in overhead wires
Somewhere ahead, in a place you’ll never reach
an old woman weaves a scarf-future
with long flashing knitting needles
the clack-clack sounds just like that young woman
who tottered out of your life in towering stilettos
knit one, purl two
Trees pass in a blur of fringe
on an embroidered highway
type destinations into your GPS
as if you’re in control
The old woman measures out your share of wool
shears poised
behind you langoliers chew up the road
like a cherry burning up a smoke
American River Review
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