In the Era of Efforts
The millionth one under suspicion.   Pressed it with
my heel anyway.   Her pins in a row—no legs, no flight.
Held them tight between her lips.   We had ferried over,
so goes the version.   I had lessons coming, for weeks.
Made my rounds in the house.   Dye left in a bowl and
the smearing that held fast.   My palms revealed the hunted.
Everyone mentioned the smearing.    A thread down her calf
and my feet anchored to the floor.   Let’s not be so fast
to forego the comfort.   Like gasoline leaking from a cuff.   Now
the numb side of my face showed nicely.   After all, the puffs
had disappeared.   The iron arm of the up and down.   Most pins
had their spaces.   When it flattens out they sting more.   Deliveries
came with the breakwater.   Wasn’t I elbowed when she left?
Jarring to think so.   Engineered for tasks like that.   What’s Saturday
without it? An outcome of the dirty trip up North.   So much
wedged in the tote.   Her hair loose at the shoulder, sometimes idling.
 
 
Whose Secrecy Lapsed
No world outside.   The radio blaring behind the door.
So sulk with summer.   Not that I’d forget.   To check on
the morning nerves.   Her signal from the window.
Like a mood that needs to unwind.   Then empty.   Preferring
synthetics to security.   Burned through to the other room.
I’d transfigure myself into a table or chest.   The more
possible it became.   Might seem commonplace.   To bank all
we made.   To walk outside while it’s still habitable.
Didn’t have it in me in the end.   Not native like the purple
clover.   She retained her plastic silhouette.   Good to know
the race had started.   More static, grew louder through
the transom.   Flecks on the tile.   Soon the city turned around
on her, insulting without saying out loud.   If it weren’t for thunder
or the miracle.   She’d offer her ears.   She wiped the thicket clean.
Kept trying to lay her coat down.   I wouldn’t stay.   Without cloth
for protection.   Pushing forward.   The door gleamed like scissors.