"Testament"
by Paloma
It caught his eye,
mirroring the afternoon sun
coming through the bedroom window
There, in the
jewelry box,
on top of the polished armoire,
looking out of place
among the silver cuff links, a red stoned college ring,
the black tuxedo tie
Hutch had forgotten about it.
The medallion,
irregular hole
in the center.
Rubbing a thumb over it,
feeling the indentations left by
an artist's tool….
the inscription…..
*****************************************
White cruise ships
scattered pearls on turquoise.
Boisterous crowds
with traveler's checks,
overrunning streets
and surrounding vendors
Hutch walks out of town,
preferring his solitude
at the crest of a hill
It had been a difficult year,
conversations with an unyielding father,
a broken engagement, and the
loneliness, like a
sickeness he tried to cure with
hurried bedroom pleasure, hangovers, and
a universal distrust.
He was still sick.
This trip
to refresh, redirect
his way
Beyond his eyes,
ruins at Acropolis,
temples of gods and goddesses,
man's attempt to find meaning.
He felt like he was treading water,
all the time,
not able to float,
let go,
rest in the peace of acceptance,
in the love of who he was created to be.
An evening mist
curling up and over the town,
time to board the ship
Hutch passes an alley,
an old woman , wearing a red and white checkered scarf,
bids him see her dead son's bronze craftsmanship,
in her hand a
medallion.
Not understanding why,
but with fervent hope, he
purchases,
returns to the ship.
************************************************
Red and green, blue
and white,
colors of the season,
tables of food,
champagne glasses never empty, white lights on his tree,
gaiety among
friends,
Hutch's first year with Starsky.
Outside, by the earthen
pottery, he gives Starsky
the gold gift box,
Starsky lifts out the medallion,
"A testament to our frienship…like this circle,
no beginning, no
end"
Putting the thin leather strip over his head
the inscription rests on his chest,
and Hutch thinks…."Now it is in the right place"