Aura Light

I fell into an unbidden sleep 
in my chair, winter’s late afternoon

light through the north-facing window
dim as underworld glow. I woke 

soon, wondering whose life this was, 
and saw, in the open palm 

on my lap, this world’s aura, its soft 
star-water bathing familiar skin. 

So I saw who I’d been, whose hand 
had conducted comfort and pain 

in love’s name. I’d stood 
in the hard glare of the midday sun’s  

photic rain, and not seen
what I’d done. In this dark 

room with no one, I raised that hand 
and waved to my children.

[“Aura Light” first appeared in Pontoon.] 

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