After Bill Evans

by Marc Janssen

I don’t mind the rain
 Falling in Victoria
Making puddles on the careful concrete
 That soaks my shoes.

When you are in love with someone
 For a long long time
Are you supposed to look at them in a specific way?
Can you assemble your face like Rudolph Valintino
 Like Greta Garbo?

I don’t mind the rain
 In May
Knocking the blossoms off the trees
 And making the irises cry.

When you are in love with someone
 For a long long time-
 How do you know if they love you?
Do you reach out with nippy toes beneath the covers?
Do they stick around when everyone grows up
 And moves away?

I don’t mind the rain
 Here, today.
 Right here.
 Light and thoughtless, a spring rain.
I don’t mind a spring rain
If I can be in it with you.

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What is there left to say about Marc Janssen, other than he should eat more vegetables? Maybe his verse can be found scattered around the world in places like Pinyon, Orbis, Pure Slush, Cirque Journal, Two Thirds North and Poetry Salzburg also in his book November Reconsidered. Janssen coordinates the Salem Poetry Project- a weekly reading, the occasionally occurring Salem Poetry Festival and keeps getting nominated for Oregon Poet Laurate. For more information visit, marcjanssenpoet.com.