Night Gathering

NIGHT GATHERING

I

Whether I was dreaming or awake,
I was fully alert and cautious as I stood
Looking at my surroundings on Morross Street.
I started to wander down the street
To the calming melodies of windswept trees
And sensed someone or something
Was close by and shadowing me.
Looking at the house from a distance,
I caught a flashing glimpse of a silhouette
Making its way slowly up the driveway
And started to head toward the garage.

II

Cautiously he moved, turning and looking
Around the familiar surroundings.
I picked up my pace as my heart raced,
And I was overcome with a sense of foreboding.
The house seemed all aglow,
But appeared dark and empty inside.
The neighbor’s cat was strutting about
And made her way to the front porch.
It hopped unto the chair,
Took one peek through the window,
And sat back down as if waiting for someone.

III

From a distance, I saw an elderly woman
Approaching with a familiar face,
And walked up to the side door
And began to knock,
But there was no answer.
Our eyes met at a close distance,
And I vaguely recalled that familiar face
From my days past and early youth.
Looking at me with kindness,
She only offered a comforting smile
As She made Her way to the backyard.

IV

Just as my mind started to decipher
And construe what was happening,
Another woman appeared from the night
Walking hurriedly towards the house.
She looked at me with a tearful smile,
And She clearly knew who I was.
I somehow sensed the kinship between us,
But Her face was unfamiliar to me.
Cautiously I moved up the driveway
And pondered on the three companions
Circling around the property.

V

I heard murmurs, and then laughter,
As I reached the back lawn.
I saw the pear tree as it was,
All ripe and blossoming before me.
And it had Seventy plus shining pears
Glowing and glinting from it.
I saw the Family of Three sitting,
A Brother and his two Sisters
Together again conversing beneath it.
In the air, that familiar cigarette smell
Filled the night air around me.

VI

And my curiosity was broken
As I stood there and witnessed
A magical night gathering of three.
They only look at me and smiled,
No speech was passed between us.
To speak to them, I could not,
No words would reach my tongue.
To move towards them, I couldn’t,
My feet were locked and my heart was racing.
I then saw Him stand up,
As He looked out to the empty garden.

VII

A garden that once had sprouting
Tomato plants that reached the sky,
And cucumbers that populated the ground.
He then walked to where the fruitful
Plumb and peach trees once stood side by side,
And began watering the ground with His tears
Hoping they would both spring up,
And be whole again before him.
And just as I awake,
My tears were watering my pillow,
Knowing nothing will ever be whole again.

©️Habib Dabajeh