i suddenly know
what i would make
for you
(if i were a person
that made things
for you)

i’m not good at remembering
dates or names or numbers
but i do remember this message
with utmost clarity

delivered to me in elementary school
sitting in a desk
silence
facing forward
toward the chalkboard
the teacher pointing
to the word “assume”
centered on the board:

arrows were drawn
and the lesson made clear

“when you assume,
you make an
*** out of
u and me.”

might as well
let fly the fear
of going back<<<
since it is
not even a place
and not even a thing

don’t tell me that,
i don’t like that.

what is it you
expect me to do?

identify the suspects?
map the connections?
follow the protocols?
test the responses?

-

it’s just that things are so fragile
the lines so thin
the intentions so pure

everyday i am born again
and everyday i die

sometimes the changing light
is a
blue-green
indigo-violet
turquoise-dream

and i miss you so much
that i cry
my eyes
right out.