We close in on ourselves,

then yelp that the world is awry.

If one person could see his (or her)

reflection outlined in the mirror

the last knot would come untied,

the great ship slip into the depths

of the Atlantic Ocean. Who told you

to say that? Why have you come here?

We need more people like you

to tell us what we’re not like. True,

aging would get lost in the process.

We’d be sitting on the grass like young

idiots, involved in some personal spell

when the boiler exploded. You’d say,

“I can’t get over that hat,” and I.

pretending not to understand, would say,

“Can I get you anything?”