Laura Sims
from Stranger
We fear
By the library door
Any news?
We fear you might fail
There is no such thing
As a copy
*
Clean and un-creased
Un-spotted
Un-yellowed
As clean and as creamy
May it waft in and hang
In the air of our room
One night
*
WeÕve been twiddling our thumbs
Braiding our hair
By the fire
Telling tales
We fear you might fail
That final directive
Clean and un-creased
As clean and as creamy
As when
It was born
*
ÔA man is always
doing somethingÕ
WeÕve heard
Being dead means
No more listening to the radio
Go along
Unknowing if the elk was real
*
Patted down hard
Smoothed in an oval
Planted with grass
When you stumbled out raw
A white satin-lined carriage
Look harder
*
You sleeping too much
What it means is
Crossing the bridge into fog
As clean and un-creased
Make it pure
Or some other such nonsense
*
We love the girl
Who turns
To us:
Make it clean as your face
On that day
*
Golden chain
Run come rattle the chain
Darling girl
At our gates
Sick and wanting
*
Have you any idea
WeÕve expected
Not this
Half-laughing / half-weeping
ÔNot for usÕ
This particular consequence
*
Any news
Un-clean and un-creamy
Un-Darling
Alive with its absence
You, stained