Compatibility Report

When words began
to pile up at the corners
of my mouth,
I oozed over to
see
the city and its
night glands
throb
before choking.

Nothing much
was marching
when she called,
and she had so many
sonnets
like glances to squander,
I felt like
buying tattoos of pearls
or ropes of glossy wheat.

It was all
the way time
grunts,
shifts its weight:
a recognition of
kindred,
a hazy sameness
that loves
sitting by the fire.

I was in swoon
over courage,
a red
American
heart soaked
in letters and cities.