tell them about love
I should say from the outset
that unfortunately the poet isn’t here today
he has some personal business elsewhere
and has left me to hold the fort
I’ve his scribbled notes hastily written
his handwriting leaves something to be desired
and as I recall he mentioned as he ran out the door
something about love about love he called
over his shoulder tell them about love
about how it runs out the door
about how it leaves you in the lurch
leaves you to hold the fort
with some scribbled declarations
apologies a code for accusations
an ellipsis the Morse for absence
ophidian and sibilant
and how finally
irrevocably
it runs
into silence …
