these days

i can't focus on anything long enough

to think

still? she says

the question hangs in the air a moment

before i brush it aside with reassurances

cleaning the table, wiping it away

the structure of life tenuous

wood touching wood

waiting for the rot and the wear and the earth

to inhale it all, exhale it out

how can you not care? she shook her by the shoulders

i let her lie to herself a little

we all lie to ourselves a little

pulling down each beam like toothpicks

her wavering breath is a wolf's

it'll probably be fine, she says

and the thing is, I don't know.