To look at them, you might not think the two men, having spoken briefly 
                and now moving away from each other, as different goals 
                require, have much history, if any, 

There are certain words—ecstasy, abandon,
surrender—we can wait all our lives,
sometimes,

Surrounded by the blur of her own movements, the
thought of making him happy was very dear to her.

The red dress twisted under her is the last of
her mother’s history. You want to keep her
always. Every noon you carry her from the house

Mother in champagne-colored dress,
      neckline with navy-blue crenelles,

Gesturing toward the master bedroom suite,
"Solid cherry wood!" Mother said grandly.

Mary and Baby Jesus in back of a plane.
In the cockpit was Pontius the Pilot.

No, we’ll not pack our bags yet. The hooves
you guys and I were hearing were just horses.

Some say it’s pickled
(formaldehyde) in the basement
of a funeral parlor in Indiana.

Paula did it so others in the office—
who lunch at The Olive Garden together,
don’t include her—won’t think she is