GENEVIEVE KAPLAN

You and your swan. Me and my landrover.

O, I was startled. It was a rumor to find you,
a quiet wonder only. Can you meet me
by the river early this evening?
I'd like a fish or two.
A waterbug. What a knot
in the world, all that slips past the garden.
All the demons in the world. To comfort you
I would take you to the river, as the walking
might be calming. The walk outside
would not be misery ever.
Like the basement steps, running down,
breathing past one tiny flea
the river is crowded
with boats, with lilies, with small diseases.
The drains have stopped working.
It was a long road.
A steep journey so effective as to drown it all out.