twas the night before Columbus Day, ’70
and the humidity gave a semblance
of warmth to a day not unchilly, even somewhat clammy.

Dear Kenward,
                              What a pearl
of a letter knife. It’s just

We were wise to say.
Goodbye, cheap lamps

The search for health and pleasure
leads to no fairer clime

We cannot fight on this glue
give us the bread we are used to

There is a hornet in the room
and one of us will have to go

It clears away: the rain
is only rain that didn’t fall.
I got my hair cut.

I love crystal fringe on a dance frock
and the ripple of light as you pass
in a plain little chemisette bodice

A garnering squirrel makes a frantic chatter at a posse of cats
that sit and stare while their coats thicken

A cherry colored picture hat
of Tagal straw, its only trimming
a black and white big windmill bow