Carolyn Oliver
THE STRANGER
says to me / at the wake / Oh, all those / Christmases, / those birthdays / dear, just think! / I cannot / stop thinking /she forgot / to mention / the wedding / we won’t have / the dress I / wish you’d tear / like rags from / my body / left behind / I’ve become / pine needles / dry scattered / underfoot / (a real mess) / soot needing / to be licked / from singed skin / rough fingers /
yours \