The fly explores me,

tickles my arms and my hands --


It cannot be caught.

I'm sad from the rain,

without knowing: is this real --


genuine sadness?

Do as he does, stare

at him, scan his body, and --


see his discomfort.

Just to get a grip

on what's happening, I say --


out loud: nownownow.

It didn't count for much,

I know in hindsight, thanks to --


my account of it.

Take care when you dream,

not to get lost in all your --


possibilities.

Before we can no longer
seal the cracks
of windows and doors
against betrayal
we must take other risks
to preserve our dreams

Until we can no longer
dance away our common
powerlessness in love songs
with our hands and hips
and sing along with
the happiness and the longing

Then to dance with eyes and lips
and to sing along together
to drown out the sorrow
of the unwanted
farewell that we take
without saying goodbye

The apples taste like oil
the wind erases our traces
on the cracked skin
of the pale earth where
nothing flourishes and nothing thrives
It erases our contact