We liked the party atmosphere
and did what we did to keep it up.

The way you brought boas and hand-made favors,
and I the mood music, and some kindnesses to share.

And so it’s been. Smiles all around, a fecund feel, someone
ending up in the ditch, all of us filling an open space.

Which is how we rode out the wind shifts,
even traveled to wherever this is.

We found a way to brook the brook, to sift some siftings,
all of us late, trapped by what got said before.

And still we’ve felt like we’ve been walking in dark,
our hands out in front of our face.

We adjusted, developed a strategy, flawless it seemed,
like the kill deer

twigging around, feigning injury,
diverting attention from its nest on the ground.