Countries, Little Notes

She lives in the habit of leaving things

countries, little notes

This morning I awoke to this:

I’m sorry, last night in the middle

of everything I remembered

a previous engagement

in the Russian countryside

but if ever you’re in Minsk

please feel free

etc. etc. Sincerely

She lives in the habit of leaving things

towns, clothes

last April she went to Baltimore

wearing one shoe

I discovered the other

late, sleepless

under the mattress.

I live in the habit of recalling things

evenings, little sayings

all September or close to an hour

together, dark

in the hallway she said:

maybe you should go ahead

and unlock the door.

I live in the habit of creating consolations

small, horrible

she just lives in the habit of leaving things

I say or

maybe I’m not the only one

who finds himself now

suffering the South

in an empty house

keeping sad company

with a shoe and a blouse.

September 27, 1992