July 10 2008

That is when I love you most

early A. M. drives on expressways

coffee and cigarettes

the bright sun over our left shoulder

windows down

fast breeze

There is no more linger 

about us

no more intense "stay with me"

no more late night swims

no more house to ourselves

no more family gatherings

I want to empty our change purse

and count what is left

for us.

Natural History

7/9/2008

i was too scared to walk

into that room

the scale model of the womb

red lights

heart beat

umbilical cord

The origin of every notion of comfort

i went halfway around the world

to wander through museums

pretending that i came looking for

great masters of art

hearing instead

school groups

running and yelling

nearly knocking over the collected centuries 

not understanding

"Please Do  Not Touch"

i went looking 

and found grown-up

ideas of "Please Do Not Touch"

grown-up feelings of guilt

i went looking for me

instead i found you

                         everywhere.

Underground

6/29/2008

you sit google-eyed 

on a bench

wanting only to tell the black woman 

who just got off the train 

that you like her bag.

A tall, gray man once said 

"the heart never fits its wanting"

does yours?

you want for nothing

i want to be you

roaming the underworld

with a rolling suitcase and 

a bunch of grapes

no wants in my heart

five teeth in my mouth

500 voices in my head

a smile on my face