you walked all the way across the room
to tell me you need to hear my joy
as if you own all the shine in the sun
and want to make a generous donation
to a sad, unfortunate poet
I can see you need some joy
you are up to your sweet green eyes in tears
your zippered smile
holding in a shadow trying to escape
I hold your heart, your hands
with my poem
even though it may have brought this on
even though it is not for you
you are not alone-
perhaps you, too, have had a dream
where only you can see the cruel message
written in invisible ink
but there’s only so much a poet can do
about the fallout
perhaps you did not read the sign
when you came in:
management not responsible
for personal baggage left unattended
