brighter times

candlelight dances on the old silver pendulum clock.

lightning rips dark lilac clouds

like headlines rip the front page

of the dusty newspaper from brighter times.

the pendulum lights and shadows printed names

in bold and black, and a photograph of smiles,

eleven- twelve- thirteen times-

’til thunder cracks through counting wind

like the cold, brass lock and key

that locked away those brighter times.