The garden has grown

over and become

a sanctuary-of-sorts for all kinds

of stray cats, birds, possums, and other

explosions of indigenous life and

the porch is broken

the shutters just fall

and no more time is to be had

for trifles like these, at all

but there’s a recyclable paper bag

containing donuts once

snagged in a weed tree.

And upon it

“Someone” you will

never forget

has written in

(before trailing off

and going away)

magic marker

calligraphy:

“Dear Sir,

you kissed my feet the last time

I saw you and it made

your hair

fall

around my walking

for a very long time.

But I am OK

this way

out and about again

on my own

yet I thought I

just wanted you

to know

and oh

my hand is steadier now –

and

I used to want you,

I really did, you know”

Dale Barrigar Williams