So many ways to fool ourselves: cheap ice cream
at midnight. Stuffing too much into dryers, trash bags,
or explanations. Hitting the send button too quickly.
Forgetting to read the room, the text, the heart
you so foolishly carry above your belly as if life
is made only of charm and clear skies while really,
it’s mostly coming attractions or rear-view mirrors.
Foolish as the birdfeeder on the bedroom window
that calls all raccoons at 3 a.m., or driving over
broken wine bottles someone smashed to celebrate
love’s foolish gyrations before it went all wrong.
Foolish as leaving chocolate in the back seat of the car
one drives anymore, losing your phone on a plane,
and anything you say that makes someone shudder.
Yet ten years ahead, the residue of each foolishness
is barely a spent petal from an ice-burned daffodil.
Besides, what fueled such foolishness but a scared bunny,
anxious ferret, the total menagerie of you?
So wear it proudly, a new badge on your girl-scout sash,
and shashay across the room and parking lot so foolishly
that all the dogs and sunshine in the neighborhood join in.
