[He is alive, this morning--], Rebecca Hazelton
Hushed footsteps - this is fresh snow - new to me, to the world,
even the streetlights lose their buzz, and cone the street, silent.
Insulated against cold, against sound, I am zipped
secure in my downy coat,
and I can barely feel your hand on my back,
lightly touching, ready to catch me if I slip.
I am new to love, to the world,
vain in the glory of it-
even the snow is for us,
the quiet streets at three A.M., the
hum in my head from vodka, from a party
in which no one (everyone) knew we were,
secretly, fucking - and do you know, in this
moment, that I have already decided,
or as much as I can, stumbling,
resigned myself, If this doesn't work, I quit,
not knowing if I mean love, or life, or or.
It's New Year's or it's
new, the year is unspooling, and history
grasps us tighter, this small part.