Moving into Temperance
by Peter Faziani
When I realized we would leave the grove & the lake
soon, one month or two and move back mid-land
where the lakes are man-made – dug out by backhoes and
man’s back strength, and nowhere near being as great, I started
to love the Mayflies, bugs alive for mere hours, born from the lake
that crunch under feet and rubber car tires,
and feared missing the night’s wind whipping
the water up onto the stairs that lead down to the beach.
I started to love the quiet street where neighbors are friendly and
elderly, though not everyone applies. I don’t think I could ever love the giant
spiders. The panicking longing for one final glimpse of the minnows, the rocks,
and the silty water, one final breath of the musty air sets in.
Though I know I’ll return, one day, to the lakes
As of now, it’ll be in my sentimental dreams.
PHOTO: “Mayfly Reflected” by Thomas Young. Prints available at fineartamerica.com.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This poem is one of a collection inspired by my time living on Lake Erie. The lake, the place, and the house heavily influenced the poetry written at that point in my life. This poem, one of the last I wrote there, was, as the content suggests, written on the cusp of moving.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Peter Faziani is a Ph.D. Candidate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is also the general editor of Red Flag Poetry. His poetry has appeared in several publications including The Collagist, The Tau, and images.
AUTHOR’S PHOTO CAPTION: This photo was taken on the break wall at our house on Lake Erie.
Silver Birch Press 