A VALENTINE’S POEM
Don’t come any closer
The two men threatened each other
Angrily glaring across the doorway.
Don’t you dare say that to me
The girl told the guy.
I will sit right here until the world moves
Crouched like a stone lion
Not sure whether tense or sleeping
It’s just a dumb statue
I bet there’s something interesting on the street
That it missed.
Interesting?
A car out there
A letter from a newspaper
And two men having a fight
And in the house on the street, a couple
Frowning about each other. Too suspicious
To speak.
I bet there’s something interesting
That it missed.
There’s a television show blaring in there.
Well thought out, complete.
When the street is real quiet, though,
I’d like to walk down it.
You know, hear the echoes
Of at least my own feet.
Hear the night wind.
Make that street
Wider.
Don’t you dare come any closer
The two men threatened each other.
Don’t say that to me.
The girl told the guy.
If I was the statue
I would do no more than wish.
Wish I were what I copied
Wish I were alive.
That statue
Sitting
Not even with the chance.
That sucks.
It is so grandiose
And clean
So curious.
With big plans
Sometimes I am with people
Sleeping in the sun
Shady trees, picnicers.
That’s fun.