Nocturne

after Eric Satie, “Gymnopedie No. 2”

by Eileen Murphy

my dead baby brother’s footsteps

are the rain

on the roof tonight

piano chords reach

for me

like arms

after the storm

a humid mist

descends

& feathers trail

from a faint full moon

soon disappearing

* * * * *

A former Chicagolander, Eileen Murphy now lives 30 miles from Tampa. She received her Masters degree from Columbia College, Chicago. She teaches literature and English at Polk State College in Lakeland and has recently published poetry in Thirteen Myna Birds, Tinderbox (nominated for Pushcart Prize), Yes Poetry, The American Journal of Poetry, Rogue Agent, Deaf Poets Society, and other journals. Her website is mishmurphy.com.