John Sibley Williams

Manners of Distortion

Death rarely whispers to us, embraces us
those February nights that superficially
most resemble him-black radiator-hissing
agitated nights when looking inward we expect
to find barren tundra, tight-fisted ice
layering the lake we once loved as birds.

I’ve learned the instruments of winter
and that ice distorts reflection
         bluer, harder,
while those elegant ripples signaling rebirth
distort in a different manner.

Author Bio

John Sibley Williams has an MA in Writing and resides in Portland, OR, where he frequently performs his poetry, works with Ooligan Press and HoboEye, and studies Book Publishing at Portland State University. His poetry was nominated for the 2009 Pushcart Prize. Some of his over 100 previous or upcoming publications include The Evansville Review, Ellipsis, Flint Hills Review, Euphony, Open Letters, Cadillac Cicatrix, Juked, The Journal, Hawaii Review, Cutthroat, Red Wheelbarrow, Aries, The Alembic, Clapboard House and River Oak Review.