Back Before Dark

Written for dVerse Poets Quadrille –
“A Pocket In Your Poems”. Our host,
De, asks us to write a 44-word poem
using some form of the word “pocket”.

Snow writes nothing
on the river.

In my coat pocket, your handwriting,
creased soft as an old palm:
Back before dark. Keep the lamp on.

I have kept it on
eleven winters.

Every lamp in this city burns
for a man who isn’t coming.

NAR©2026

This is “Without You” by Harry Nilsson

Quadrille #257: A Pocket in Your Poems 

^{Everything on the elephant trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicate, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.}