None of this is what I imagined. [Ed note: rare confessions]

All of this is unexpected.
Coincidences – incenses –
Somewhat eager ambivalence.
Touching touchings. [ultimate alliteration?]

Playing with the forms
From the worst position:
Bound by chains
Prometheus of America
Living the modern illusion [Ed: poet insists on one classical allusions, however embarrassing]

Forty
Reaching
Needing
Calling it love.

We annotate ourselves
With marginal reference
Explaining ourselves
To ourselves – who else would care?
Just a chance for gossip
Casual aside
And then, forgotten. [self-pity]

And you? The same you see:
The last thing I thought was: you are me. [concluding clever couplet: all done – turn to next poem]

[P.S. Ed. loves you]

8-21-83