UNDERSTOOD



A segment of thought appears neatly       on the table

Voices spill
                    Over
 
 
Breath spills out
                    Of summer windows—
Of the places where we breathe
                                   Before speaking
 
 
Before we drown
 
 
            In a river, in
            An idea of
            A river, in
            A surplus, the very
            Distance
            Between
            Strangers in a room
 
 
There is a gape between strangers
In a room, measuring distance— another
                           Word
                                   For goodbye
 
 
Wipe that blotch of            light off your face
                Swim            the distance
                               Between stars—
 
 
                    That kid getting off
                                                   The schoolbus
            Won’t be able to provide
Any answers
 
 
                    Tremble, like a silk
                                       Scarf in the wind
        Then fall down laughing—
 
 
It’s best if you don’t
                                       Understand


Mark DuCharme