Longing (Tuscany, 2009. M.A. Reilly)

Beyond Hammonton

BY STEPHEN DUNN

Night is longing, longing, longing,
beyond all endurance. 
—Henry Miller 

The back roads I’ve traveled late   

at night, alone, a little drunk,   

wishing I were someone

on whom nothing is lost,

are the roads by day I take

to the car wash in Hammonton   

or to Blue Anchor’s

lawnmower repair shop

when the self-propel mechanism goes.

Fascinating how the lamplight   

that’s beckoned

from solitary windows

gives way to white shutters

and occasionally a woman

in her yard, bending over

something conspicuously in bloom.

So much then is duty, duty, duty,   

and so much

with the sun visor tilted

and destination known

can be endured.

But at night . . . no, even at night   

so much can be endured.

I’ve known only one man   

who left the road,

followed an intriguing light   

to its source.

He told me

that he knocked many times   

before it became clear to him   

he must break down the door.

Stephen Dunn, “Beyond Hammonton” New and Selected Poems (1974-1994). Copyright © 1994 by Stephen Dunn