1393

the apology

came in a birdhouse

on a fence

with an eagle on a pole

and the man

apologizing

pulled matchsticks

from his eyes

said

“I could see

you were trying

but you weren’t gonna make it

up the stairs”

and you said

“it must have been a year

since you last

loved me

just call me a cage”

I didn’t want

to get between you

and your lover

so I watched myself sleep

and fixed my overalls in the

morning

and put my brush

on my hip

ready to clean

out the ghosts still haunting

and the ghosts just drinking

hanging around

picking their teeth

;

“Sorry I disappeared

I tried to make the words

into little kingdoms

for our love

if you know the lord and his

angels

why does praying

hurt so much

with you”