dear Jonesy,

when you left the tv on
(all day) the other day
i didn’t even think —
not once! not for a second —
about those clementines.
you addressed the ceiling,
desperate, “someone,
anyone but me, eat these
before they go.” and i nodded
and i sat down to watch re-runs
and i barely ate all day
and you were right. about the
oranges, which were ready to jump.
not that other thing.

anyways. do you know why every day lately
i find bent up nails in the kitchen?
it’s like my foot is a metal detector.

walking on not-quite eggshells,
S. Crumb