I Told Her Not To

I told her not to
Glue the map of the world
To the front of the expired calendar
December turned to its opposite side
The glue is for the grains of sand
The belly piercings to the art installation
The glue is for the girl with the wooden shoes

I told her not to
Glue the soul of her everlasting body
To the ends of her shoes
Like that
Not like that
No, I told her I’d be her
Mother and mirror
Enemy and sedative

I told her not to
But why would she listen?
Listening is false
The truth transcends voice, upsets sound
I told her to tear the atlas pages
As close to the binding
As possible, it’s better that way

I drove down that road
Went under the bridge
Over the tunnel, haloing the water
Almost every day
From 1985 to 1988
From 1996 to 1999
From some other year to some other year
I don’t know
But she wasn’t there

Next time
She’ll be there

I told her not to
Stand in her aura like that
Shaking the jewels from her memory hat
It’s a crapshoot
Sixes for signs of life in the river
Sevens for love on dry land
Eights for something long forgotten
I told her not to
She did
Bless her soul

December 19, 2006