when i say american
i mean the united states
i mean
tradition
of rugged individualism
written into the constitution
when i say loneliness
i mean
we walk the perimeter of that cavity
like one might walk the perimeter of a crater
rough-edged earth under unsure shoes
we console those who have fallen in
best we can
while praying
without sound
please god don’t ever let that be me
because that has been us
thanksgiving and christmas
are the busiest nights in emergency rooms
mostly older folks call in
not because
they have cut off a finger while slicing turkey
or broke brittle hipbones from a slip on stray tinsel
but because
they only want
to gather around the warmth
of other humans
1 Comment
November 10, 2009 at 12:10 am
this part about emergency rooms on holidays reminds me of frank o’hara.
I don’t know if we know each other but I’m excited about two 34 year olds collaborating. it’s time. send details.