Three Sonnets...

...based on Edward Hopper paintings

“NIGHTHAWKS”

The couple lean forward on the cherry

wood counter. Coffee drops curl from atop

his cup, seep into his dark-blue coat sleeve.

He doesn’t know his cigarette ash flops

to the tile floor. She holds the grey matchbook

chin-level, studies the styled typeface. “Our

boy’s enlisted, Joe,” the man says. Joe looks

up from soaking cups in the sink, not sure

what to say. “I didn’t want him to go,”

she mumbles. “Was so scared for you over

there in ’18. I’d cry every night.” “No

you didn’t,” he grumbles, staring somewhere

past Joe. “War’s hell,” murmurs the older grim

man on the corner stool. No one hears him.

Roger Armbrust

June 23, 2024

“SUMMER EVENING 1947”

She leans back on the front porch railing, her

hands pressed tight to it, body stiff, tense eyes

gazing down as she listens forever

to his marathon apology. His

eyes drawn to her two-piece pale pink romper,

holding his arm close to his chest, longing

to touch her barely tan breasts, caress her

creamy bare midriff. She feels it’s all wrong,

his sitting too close to her, smells his breath

of fresh alcohol. She’s glad she left the

bright porch light on to protect her. Can death

be worse than insincerity? Can’t she

just say “leave” and mean it? Should she confess

she wants him to touch her barely tan breasts?

Roger Armbrust

July 28, 2024

“CAPE COD MORNING, 1950”

He’d always arrive just before dawn, stand

alone, hidden in the woods. Watch the sun

slowly fill her writing room with light, his hand

trembling. Then, seeing her appear, breathe stunned

sighs of gratitude. Mute mouth praising her

auburn, bunned hair. Her soft, apricot dress,

square-cut neck offering grin of cleavage

as she leaned forward at the desk, gazing

out toward blue sea. He knew her eyes engaged

with the waves, marveled at each curling crest

celebrating sunlight. He knew the care

she’d take, sitting, picking up pen, grazing

each page with gentle touch. Each soft verse a hymn

to her lover sea. Each verse never for him.

Roger Armbrust

September 2, 2024