Love, here we stand at the beginning
of our life together, and I find myself
thinking of a hot summer night

to say, “We are home, but, no, we are not here now.
    Please don’t leave us a message.”

the world is not an example of anything. My
mother's voice calls us to dinner, and we both
stand, my brother and I, faithful now

The trick to posing newlyweds… but everyone
knows how you must incline them
to lean imperceptibly toward the warm flesh

A plant grew quietly on the windowsill, and everybody
knew it was a good soldier and they nodded hello

Smoking a dart, I said.
I just met my first bird.

Result: a wrist smiles weakly, unable to lift.
Result: a tooth grays, a lost tongue, a lisp.

“I did not think my posing for him
would reveal anything not already known.
After all, we are passionate lovers

Later, we will notice a vast communication
between separate selves. We will learn
in the colors of our lover’s body

I know the Summer-stained streets must fill, twice—
With Milk, with Flood—of Moon—and Blight.