Angels in the Architecture
Suppose there are angels
in every room, sometimes seen,
at times confused with ghosts,
but no, ghosts are impatient wanderers,
quick to put on boots &
stomp through the hedges.
Angels, half-asleep, thinking of cellos &
the flicker of a candle flame
reflected in a lover’s eye
Angel in the kitchen adding sugar
to the batter—vanilla too. Angel
in the bedroom stroking your hair
back to sleep at quarter to three.
Angel in the entry hall
trying on jackets, taste of rain.
Another angel in the attic
reading classics & teaching
mice multiplication tables.
In the basement, dirty feet,
bored & sometimes tapping
on pipes, music angel in a
choir of dark.
Forgotten, the angel in the bathroom,
unkindly lit, strong enough to
keep that razor locked in a
cabinet, ready to distract you
with a perfume trace of yesterday.
Travis Stephens
Travis Stephens is a tugboat captain who lives in California. His book of poetry, “skeeter bit & still drunk,” was published by Finishing Line Press. Visit him at: zolothstephenswriters.com
