Power Outage
A poem by Lois Perch Villemaire

Power Outage

On this summer day
neighbors roam the streets
instead of sitting in their homes
waiting for the power to return.
Dogs run, people call out 
bemoaning the inconvenience 
they hold in common.

When the sun begins to set
shadows fall around us,
we light a scented candle 
placing it on the kitchen table
grateful for the glow.
Minutes move slowly,
our stomachs growl for dinner,
we eat crackers and cheese.

The smell of the candle
grows sweet and pungent.
I blow it out and use a flashlight
to finish the book that has me
hanging onto each word
hanging onto a plot
whirling through twists and turns
as we ride out the power outage.

About the Author:

Lois Perch Villemaire is the author of “My Eight Greats,” a family history in poetry and prose. Her work has appeared in such places as Blue Mountain Review, Ekphrastic Review, One Art: A Journal of Poetry, Pen In Hand and Topical Poetry. Anthologies, including I Am My Father’s Daughter and Truth Serum Press – Lifespan Series have published her memoir and poetry. Lois lives in Annapolis, MD, where she enjoys yoga, researching family connections, fun photography, and doting over her African violets.

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