NewPoetry

Christina Wells

for William Phillips, 1970-2009

Tinman build but with the heart built in, you, a character
square and shuffling through wonder, but the stars kept this from being

a plotline with catharsis, instead, an ocean’s riled up chorus of voices –
you listened to the whole world, and the din kept this from being

a story with a carefree ending, but one that wanders, top-heavy,
bending over with pathos. We wished silence for you, but time kept you from being

a character in some play, standing aside in feigned deafness, rather,
you heard it all, the beginning, the end, the aside – your knowing kept this from being

a happy ending. We wished the deep wells of quietude could have nourished,
instead, there was only a phone call, news that kept you from being.