An Interminable Foreign Land

J. Hugh MacDonald
From:   The Digging of Deep Wells. Black Moss Press, Windsor, Ontario, 1997.

(Elegy in Exile for an AIDS Victim)

In Toronto he lies in bed
the bones of his legs
wrapped in discoloured skin
his music silenced
his mother's puzzled neighbours
whisper in the streets of his home
their straight brains
struggle to forgive her son his illness.

We who love him best
have learned of his gifts
know that gay friend in Toronto
tend his every movement
'round the clock
with selfless love
celebrate his vibrant life
and dream his final sleep

centuries of music unwind
from bundled mind and muscle
and his sweat-damped backside
bounces once again
upon the benches of pipe organs
and before the keys of a thousand dancing pianos
he pulls free from earthly pain
and soars to kinder worlds
where his blessed gift
and all his wonder
will find a full-time home at last.

Poem 1 | Poem 2 | Poem 3 | Poem 4 | Poem 5 | Poem 6

J. Hugh MacDonald's works copyright © to the author.