Darryl Willis’ most recent poem to appear here was Donetsk 2009, published as part of Contributor Series 9: If Men Had Ears, in June 2011.
Ukrainka v’Chyorniy
By Darryl Willis
I’m haunted by a girl in black.
I cannot escape her eyes. Although
she hides, she hunts me down; appears
in complete peripheral view.
Today she stood on the bus
from the plane, sporting some
sun-burst stain upon her arm.
She followed me to the cafe
and sat in the booth opposing mine,
with eyes focused on her phone.
She never looked up to notice me.
Showed herself again, this time
the sun had set from her arm.
Her hair, no longer light, takes on
a darker hue. Her eyes fix and
look into mine, she smiles and turns
and walks away to board a train.
Boldly shy and shyly bold,
her face is young, her eyes are old.
Though I know we’ve met before
we are forever meeting for
the very first and final time.
She haunts me still, this girl in black.
Love the Line “Though I know we’ve met before we are forever meeting for
the very first and final time.”
I like this poem, especially these lines:
Boldly shy and shyly bold,
her face is young, her eyes are old.
Question: Is the title her name?
Thank you so much!
Actually, the title is a Russian phrase which means “Ukraine in Black.”