Where there’s smoke
there are mirrors

and a dry ice machine,
industrial quality fans.

If I’ve learned anything
about the present moment
 •

But who doesn’t
love a flame,

the way one leaps
into being

full-fledged,
then leans over

to chat
 •

Already the light
is retrospective,
sourceless,

is losing itself
though the trees
are clearly limned.

Strand. String.
In this dream,

the paths cross
and cross again.

They are spelling
a real boy

out of repetition.
 •

Each one
is the one

real boy.

Each knows
he must be

wrong
about this, but

he can’t feel
how.
 •

The fish
and the fisherman,

the pilot,
the princess,

the fireman and
the ones on fire.

but all I want to do is marry them on a beach

that refuses to take itself too seriously.

So much of our lives has been serious.

Over time, I’ve learned that love is most astonishing

when it persists after learning where we come...

I ran across the street, I didn’t know any better.
Ran out in the street, I didn’t know no better.
I just knew a woman was there, though I’d never met her.

She sat me in her parlor, distracted me with trinkets,
milky glass...

                                    sometimes I strain
                                       ...

                                             I feel you
                               ...

I will tell you why she rarely ventured from her house. 
It happened like this:

One day she took the train to Boston,
made her way to the darkened room,
put her name down in cursive script
and waited her turn. 

When they read her name...

                                             I feel you
                               ...