We began to meet there
On the mops.
After school, during the siesta,

Precisely this
        afflicts the plagiarist,
or something like

Putting my lenses in, I see No Man’s Land in the mirror—
Which makes me think of times in Tokyo so long ago 
When, on some subway station platform, in a crowd,

We have all been there once. Some, more than that.
They forced us all to visit one September.
But that was such a long, long time ago.

My brain had been swiped clean.
I couldn’t love
songs I loved; friends came

Beasts
At the threshold
Rats

Fantastic to be Lowry by proxy,
Confabulating him; to stand tongue-tied
In awe of yourself; to hold epoxy-

Mortared by macerated wood-pulp effluvium,
                                 a paper palace hangs.

The young queen spun her eggs and hatched her grunts.

This is my lawn. I planted it, I grew it, 
and I work hard ensuring it’s attractive. 
I keep it clear of every type of pest.

in the black hood, 
come! Pierce 
my heart