This is very fine. I love the title and the different resonances it takes on in the course of the poem. The language is clear and precise, and there is just one point that I found confusing. After "It never bore his name," there should be a comma, because otherwise "shorthand" seems to be part of the same clause. I had to re-read that sentence to get the intended meaning. I like how much of the grandfather's personality is conveyed obliquely, through his actions or the pools that patiently reflect the sky.
Susan
|