The Sounding Behavior of Whales

by Patrick Hulsman

From the book:

DENISE LEVERTOV'S GARDENER

From inside the house
he has heard her
grate across the floor
and sigh as if she
were a bird of
furious and
frightening proportion
escaping from a
dark and
vestigial shell

As his spades of earth
turn to make the beds ready
for spring planting
the flutter of her
movements lead
to the porch

Letting the screen door
snap shut behind her
she exits and searches
for him scanning

steps warily
onto the stone path

She reaches the arbor
sees his quiet
and curious pose
as he lifts his face
to gaze at her

In his flannel shirt
and soil-stressed jeans

hands and fingers
stained by poems

in reverent voice asks

the placement of
the hydrangeas

60 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2018

About the author

Patrick Hulsman is a resident of Buffalo, New York. He began writing poetry while serving in the military during the Vietnam War