I felt his presence like golden tassels
in a summer Illinois cornfield, as cows
single-filed at dusk to the creaky barn
in search of his warm hands,

moon peeked over the valley crest
searching for his knowing smile,
chickens pecked for answers
to his disappearance,

steaming gooseberry pie left
on the frosted windowsill at daybreak
went begging for a lunchtime eater,

work-clothed men waited at
Joe’s bar and grill
for company too soon lost
to the August wind.

Peter A. Witt is a Texas Poet and a retired university professor. He also writes family history with a book about his aunt published by the Texas A&M Press. Peter’s poetry deals with personal experiences, both real and imagined. His poetry has been published on various sites including Fleas on the Dog, Inspired, Open Skies Quarterly, Medusa’s Kitchen, Active Muse, New Verse News, and Wry Times.