Amor Fati

What happened to him in Roanoke?
Was he seeing Reynolds too far off
to call to? He read Greek and Latin
in translation: Homer and Horace.
He fought wars, came home, farmed
after serving the emperor: like them
in all but style, their words evaded his.
He quit reading, did nothing but write.
Blanche went above Memphis finally.
She found him waiting out of his mind.

(15 November 2011)

copyright 2011 by Floyce Alexander