The Departed by Michael Keshigian

Bereft of their earthly vessel,

they lingered, concealed 

within the camouflage of blue sky, sun, clouds,

and willows weeping over the garden.

The leaves were aware of their presence,

trembling as chilled breaths

rustled each stem amid the forest confines

where the birds listened then fled

to a higher perch,

sensing an invisible intrusion.

Why else might they sing,

but to soothe meandering spirits.

And the shadows

with their shifting silhouettes,

must have been aware as well.

They disappeared then re-emerged,

after visiting that unknown dimension,

only to return with a contorted

yet cryptic message

impossible to decode

as they darkened with the disposition of the sun

when it danced between the clouds

as the birds renewed their song.

Rain commenced

and the shadows disappeared,

the departed shuddered

while silence enveloped.

Puddles formed under watchful, transparent eyes

which only the crow acknowledged,

opening his beak to address the invisible.

Michael Keshigian’s thirteenth poetry collection, The Garden Of Summer was released April, 2019 by Flutter Press. He has been widely published in numerous national and international journals, recently including Red River Review, Wild Violet Magazine, Bluepepper, Muddy River Review, Smoky Quartz and has appeared as feature writer in over twenty publications with 6 Pushcart Prize and 2 Best Of The Net nominations. (michaelkeshigian.com)