dear Florence,

are you holding up okay
since the procedure?
everyone asks about you
at the pool. dina in particular
drained her savings to buy
“got well soon” truffles for
you even though we don’t
see you anymore. we miss your
ancient neon one pieces
and your witticisms about
grover cleveland. or was it
james garfield? the one
with the cilantro… it went like
well, you know,

anyhow, i hope it was the stitches
and not something i said. if you’re
still working at the call center
maybe i’ll drop you a line.

toodles,
Marie St. June

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

dear Sissy Lou,

i was driving the usual way
yesterday to bring back your parrot
but the dogs got scared when
a helicopter passed over and,
what with the barking and all, i
tapped the brakes and
pissed off the guy behind me,
who honked and looked at me funny
and one mess messed into
two mess and, well,
just wanted to tell you
the parrot barks now too.

yours,
Frank “How’s My Driving” Monroe

dear Halt,

look y’know maybe i look like
a real piece of shit a real
stubbed toe or toothpick
to the gums (it happens)
i happen to be a little
broken up at the moment
so i won’t make it to the
cat’s funeral but when you get back
i’ll tell ya what runs ribbon under
the 24-hour news anchor
(you know, those bottom words
that toady 2am broad
croaks over em but who’d lose
a whole moon sky in that noise)

it’s been quiet here maybe
Tatty Put will scroll by
and i won’t feel so bad.

thanks for the
new tire it’s a shame
the cat ate it
eating so many tacks.

                                                      your pal,
                                                      Screech