it seemed a good idea – put it in writing

and now the letter was held gingerly

in her quivering hands

sitting across from the mailbox

trying to imagine being elsewhere

in a tea shop or trying on shoes

she could get up, walk away

tuck the missive in an old book or

inside the jacket of a vinyl record album

she could run to the nearest trash

can and drop it there –

or she could open the

mail slot

and end the

misery

forever

(word list – idea, sitting, book, hands, letter, mailbox, shop, records, way, walk, run, elsewhere)

We don’t touch

much

anymore

Whose fault is that

Do you feel the same ache

same pain that saps my

strength and leaves a

stain on my heart

Are there things in the spring

birdies singing

peepers peeping

days lengthening

that make you shake

quake with longing

Let’s wipe the salt from

our wounds and

reach out

again

You may walk a while in my shoes

Nifty white sneakers

Cherry red heels stud-

ded with carats

Tall boots gussied up with chains

Go ahead

Walk a while in my shoes and

you’ll always be late

You’ll walk outside, in the

rain, wind, boiling sun

You’ll follow the weedy path

But if you don my favorite

straw hat you will

not think my thoughts