In Medias Res

He broke the words
she thought she wanted

to court
him with. She speaks
in whispers

that vaporize
on contact. He took
the long way

around the park
at dusk
to see her

leaving. She does
not know

this could happen
to her again.

No More Legend

Conversation
dialogue monologue—mute
power down.

For Steve

Taken from the vault,
it gets warbled, deeper, slurred
when the batteries inside begin to rot
and seep. Recorded

on the west bank
of the Saint Croix River before I knew
what that meant, our conversation
was my monologue—became yours—then

it just stopped.