triple knock at the door my therapist, Bernard, and I had just finished I walk over, turn the handle FedEx I sign, take the box bring it to the coffee table Oh, that’s her ashes, he says I loved his Linda who passed a couple weeks earlier she, too sweet and full of joy, to be stuffed inside a square of cardboard we sit say nothing Linda quiet too our silent reunion

finally, they’ve discovered that “seeds can hear rain” it makes sense that when rain speaks, the little guys say “Okay, guess it’s time to sprout” now if only I could understand a plant’s cries for help, I’d squeeze clouds into a can and start pouring oh Gary, what a poor excuse for failing to read body language you know by now, wilted leaves are practically shouting “Hey – we’re thirsty over here!”

I’m up the dull light of 5:45 a.m. not as annoying as the heat in the living room that hits me, sneaking out from the bedroom’s A/C flipping the switch on the house A/C the motor kicks on like it doesn’t want to get up either dogs still asleep on the bed husband buried there somewhere, too the waterfall of the pond churns white where it assaults the water so much fresh oxygen, I’m jealous one dog comes out to greet me punches through the doggie door, pees, sniffs what