Elaine Reardon

He lived alone by the old apple barn
after being released from confinement
he was happy except
in the extreme heat
of the early autumn days

when the bees would hoard all of the honey
and dive into the barrels of warm cider he made
like aero-stuntmen from the old days

he’d cuss and leave them to it
the bees would fall drunk around him
on the sweetness of the cider

he lived alone by the old apple barn
gathering apples where they fell
watching the stars on summer nights

steering his dreams by moonlight
after moving to the Ashfield hills
he was happy except
in the extreme heat
of the early autumn days

when memories bobbed up and dived
so many leftover dreams
when he lived alone by the old apple barn