Christmas
Walk to the greenhouse.
Sit near the heater,
Enjoy the warmth,
Think of me.
Pull out an iPod and a notebook.
Smile at the rustling plastic.
Lean back and day-dream.
Keep leaning back, and back, and back.
Crash into the heater.
Blackness and a growing awareness.
The yellow notebook is in the mulch.
The heater is on its back.
Jump to your feet,
Lift the heater.
Pick up the chair.
Vague images of hair over eyes,
Close-ups of lips.
Strip out the soundtrack and make me
Say what should’ve been said.
The iPod is face down beside the hard inner edge of a clay pot.
The screen is not cracked.
Sit in the other chair.
Pull out the notebook and
Write what you came out here to write.
And remember to tell your sister about what just happened–
Take notes.
Walk to the greenhouse.