You count the seconds, I count what you hide A glass on the table, your coat on one side One thought in a loop, two names in the room I came here composed; I leave out of tune I kept every receipt from the nights you revised it Your neat little note with the corner uncreased You say I misheard, then you change the description I learn every version, then lose the release A sentence gets bent till the meaning goes missing You pass me the cup like the matter is closed I measure the pause, every blink, every pivot You tell me to quit it; I count what you chose You want the whole answer I give you a phrase You hold it up backward And call it a name Same room, same question, the edges keep shifting Leave one small space where the truth can sit Your hand on the handle, my mind double-dipping Don’t make me explain what you already fixed Same note, new angle, I turn it, return it A short little phrase and I overlearn it Say less, stay close, let the meaning pass One small word on the rim of the glass Back and forth, back and forth One says wait, one says more Back and forth, back and forth We know this door, we know this door I fold the receipt and I slide it away You ask what it means; I say nothing today My mouth keeps the answer in measured supply Your questions grow taller; I watch them go by A spoon touches china, the clock loses count You turn every maybe to proof on account I used to get heated; now nothing takes hold I leave you the story, the ending stays cold I map every doorway, then circle the kitchen Your words in a row, but the row won’t stay still I swear I was certain, then edit the sentence The minute you ask me exactly what I feel Come nearer. No, there. Keep that distance. I had the answer. I lost the question. If I name every detail, the doubt gets a border If you need every answer, you miss what I mean I stack up the evidence, reorder, reorder I leave one blank space in the shape of the scene Same note, new angle, I turn it, return it A short little phrase and I overlearn it Say less, stay close, let the meaning pass One small word on the rim of the glass Back and forth, back and forth One says wait, one says more Back and forth, back and forth We know this door, we know this door The napkin is folded, the corner is torn You said it was Tuesday; I heard it was dawn I thread every syllable through a new theory Then hear my own voice and it sounds like a warning You tell me “it’s simple,” I split it in pieces A comma, a breath, and the room rearranges I’m trying to stand still while every thought races You look at the clock; I look through all its faces The cup’s on the table The coat’s by the chair The note says “tomorrow” You’re still standing there I won’t solve the silence I won’t make it kind I can let the sentence End before the line Same note, new angle, I turn it, return it The phrase stays small, but I still overlearn it Say less, stay close, let the meaning pass One small word on the rim of the glass Back and forth, back and forth One says wait, one says more Back and forth, back and forth We know this door, we know this door The cup’s gone cold. The note stays folded. I leave one question Unopened.
