Would you still hear me 

in the quiet woods of night 

when it seems empty on top 

but there’s scurrying beneath? 

I like to sing about green things 

like a spiraling embrace in fog. 

When it gets very cold, 

I imagine being suspended 

like a frog in an icy pond, 

longing to leap and love 

in a welcoming sun. 

But today, the woods are empty 

and winter is upon us 

(can you hear me?).

It’s hard to tell when sadness is allowed 

when buildings impede sunshine 

on railroad tracks below 

but travelers are just happy to be moving. 

It reminds me of searching for lyrics 

on a cassette insert and finding 

I rather liked my mistakes better. 

We danced to many mistakes 

to the tune of our frantic hearts. 

He had a beautiful analogy about dancing 

with me being like shuffling with cattle. 

Moo, I say, smiling and wiggling.

Half removed, half-heartedly 

poking through underbrush of the day, 

wondering if the best has passed 

with barely a mention 

and why can’t we turn around 

when the way seems blocked. 

It hurts like sweat on a jagged wound 

when you don’t know if healing will come. 

It’s all part of the same story 

and I’ve dog-eared some passages 

but can’t recall where I’ve left the book.

I thought Stromboli was done exploding, 

like hidden jars over the Pelice 

but there were a few lights left… 

Oh! They were stars looking like 

pinpricks in a filthy sheet! 

How lewd and lovely. 

I couldn’t quite see the man 

strumming the sawtooth-hammerhead 

shark, but I would know the sound 

of drowning on land anywhere. 

It goes well with butter. 

His face only bends a little each way 

but it’s like the universe was born 

in one of his happy crinkles. 

My gold has turned silver 

though there are times I wish it hadn’t. 

We believe in a vague destiny- 

part petals, potatoes, and prayer – 

with heavy hearts and light promises 

and though we try to turn fractals 

into something complicated, a fern 

will speak up and remind us to shut up.

He couldn’t reach her 

because it was too long 

what came between them 

She almost didn’t mind 

the wait in between 

because it was thrilling 

When it got too dark 

they counted on chaos 

with its sweet delay