Floyd Skloot

Memorial
Boiler Bay


Memorial

The gaping carcass of her dresser
gleams in the harsh garage light
as a last coat of varnish dries.
He leans inside to sand its dust
panels one last time, in his loss
the kind of man who would work
hidden plywood sheets just to keep
her drawer cases rigid. He has turned
the finial until its delicate swirls
suggest the finest lace and buried
her initials within both pivots
of the swing mirror. Side ornaments
restored, center drawer leveled
to soften the kneehole, knobs pegged
firm, there is nothing left to do
but refill the dresser with all
the things she has left behind.

---

Boiler Bay

From Yaquina Head north to Otter Rock
sea and sky slowly gathered and grew dark
at mid-day. The wind turned itself around
inside caves it had carved into the land,
then curved over us with the open sound
of ecstasy. We took each other's hand.

In the May evening we began walking
the winter-beaten beach at Boiler Bay,
celebrating our fourth year together,
not knowing how far we could go this year
but ready to face the change of season
in a place without comfort or shelter.

Wrapped in layers of wool, we were talking
about the endless months of harsh weather
and watching the waves at dusk in their gray
mass building force for another night's storm.
When my cane sank deep in sand she held me
up and led me to the edge of the sea.
We stared at the vanishing horizon,
where a first hope of spring began to form.

Floyd Skloot has had work published in The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Poetry, Hudson Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, Southern Review and many other magazines here and abroad. His most recent collection of poems is Music Appreciation. He is also the author of 3 novels and a book of essays.