At Last

… the ancient defenses against the dead
will be done with and left to the dead at last

—W.S. Merwin

Let the strife of the dead remain with the dead at last.
The words that needed to be said have been said at last.

Years ago the phoenix was seen through a veil of flames,
& now the ashes from its wings have been shed at last.

The father you never knew died seeking forgiveness,
Whose farewell letter has been opened & read at last.

You followed a ghost through the debris of bombed buildings,
Who spoke of the freedom to which you were led at last.

The walls shuddered when priests read prayers & blessed
All the rooms from where phantoms have fled at last.

The words that needed to be said have been said at last.
Let the strife of the dead remain with the dead at last.

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Steffen Horstmann
Picture George Roux

Steffen Horstmann’s poems and book reviews have appeared in publications throughout the world, including Baltimore Review, Free State Review, Istanbul Literary Review, Louisiana Literature, Oyez Review, San Antonio Review, Texas Poetry Journal, and Tiferet. He has published two books of English ghazals, Jalsaghar (2016) and Ujjain (2017).

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