Appeared in The Press June, 2009:

Not Tonight

I’m a water bird trapped in the bellows
of a piano accordion.

In my walnut brain
a migraine of box headed musicians thumps.

Love song, thud song, an incessant canto of
dribbling basketballs.

It’s a peaceful lie
that God can distribute love on my behalf,

wrap it in a clean tea towel, crush it with
a rolling pin,

then scatter crumbs
in a trail that doesn’t lead to me.