She mentioned ‘worthless’ & he took it in,

degraded Henry, at the ebb of love—

O at the end of love—

in undershorts, with visitors, whereof

we can say their childlessness is ending. Love

finally took over,

after their two adopted: she has a month to go

and Henry has (perhaps) many months to go

until another Spring

wakens another Henry, with far to go;

far to go, pal.

My pussy-willow ceased. The tiger-lily dreamed.

All we dream, uncertain, in Syracuse & here

& there: dread we our loves, whereas the National Geographic

is on its way somewhere.

We’re not. We’re on our way to the little fair

and the cops & the flicks & the single flick

who’ll solve our intolerable problem.