Left

Not everything that doesn’t get built
dies, not everything built lives.

Better with a wrench
than a hammer, she

would rather loosen
those four legs to collapse

old surfaces than tighten a grip
into an ache. This overreach

for words pounds down.

Obvious

Inspiration in the spit
laden air, in the sequence

of events from lake to balcony
to converted house to nailing down

these recalcitrant emotions
with a red hammer

(yes, it must be red).
I’m no butterfly

catcher, am afraid
to pin down wings

gently with my thumb.
I still need to let them fly

off to endanger you
to my vulnerable side.