"MILESTONE"

The daub of cracked colonial paint

points a moonfaced thumb



into indian ink night

into a cradle of snakes



creepers knot nightmare hands

wings murmur like rumour



No provident winter plants,

Tendrils tap at the window



On the bare boards beside her

The gilt mirror

where she mourns



Her age looks in



The tight mouth tells no secrets

breath clouds the glass



She holds her white candle

to the prowling dark

the chattering shanties



She has left her gray woman's soul at the milestone

A hungry ghost

By
Robert James Berry

I'm a Londoner by birth, currently living and working on Penang Island, in West Malaysia. I lecture in English at the University of Science here. I've had poems published in the States, England and New Zealand.