DATING
Consider a recipe
in which the essential
ingredient unlisted.
“Good luck” — the signature dish.
A meal shared, two mouths taste
the same, separately. Lips smile
or stiffen. Clues left, warp
or weft. A new moon parses light.
Time and the simple
gesture collide: judgment
and history. The solid
and the imperceptible
plated.
Doorbell rings, echo absorbed as grace
or mishap. Too late to worry why
invitation extended, why
accepted.
The question turns scarlet
and falls, leaves
without prediction.
FOR
this is the life
I am responsible
cat
laundry
bed
food
work
Enters that damn dream
overhead shadow nebulous swatch
something abandoned
premonition
taskmaster
master of ceremonies
jester
conscience of the unrealized
In rain raven holds mirror
what to make of it?
Tethered to a list
I am fist restless
trade pillow for grudge my head lies upon
How I hate
to hate
This is the poem
no one hears
