Silence of After

                                  Silence of After
Noise lives in silence after sound dies
hides under the dog caught between tire and asphalt
human and animal screams wind together into the wind
then hide in the silence of after.
Passersby lift him to my cradling arms where          
I wash him with scalding tears
Lips clamp tightly choke futile begging
There’s nothing to say.
No Lazurus ending on this sidewalk today.

Noise hides patiently in that silent after,
waits to creep out, as a whimper or a sigh
In the too wide bed when
my hand forgets
still reaches for his silky ear.

Marian Foster
February 2, 2013