This Side of You

This Side of You Chard deNiord (bio) Keywords nature, loss, grief, love, woods, cure, silence, impermanence, death Words are poor receipts for what time hath stole away. —John Clare I think you're still here sometimescalling to me like the thrush at duskinside the woods where I lose my way.I search for you like a ghost myselfin all the usual places, stand on the shorethis side of you and speak to the riverthat flows and stays, stays and flows.Everything is deaf to what I say,choosing only to speak in the singletongue of its simple language: river,sycamore, wind … I listen to the hillsand valleys with the hope that evena breeze will cure my heart. "Move on,"it whispers in the honey locust abuzzwith bees. "Move on." A few leaves fall like empty pages. I carry your stonewith a perfect ear for silence. End Page 11 Chard deNiord chard deniord is the author of seven books of poetry, most recently In My Unknowing (U. of Pittsburgh Press) and Interstate (U. of Pittsburgh Press). He served as the poet laureate of Vermont from 2015 to 2019. Copyright © 2024 The Massachusetts Review, Inc.