Tell Me

You are gone now, truly
and to look you up in the dictionary
is no longer possible or

enough. The new season's arrow
cleaves the maudlin
right out of the air, stays

the wavering knife. Better off
without you, say the crickets, say
the Christmas tree lights

which each night make a party
out of the darkness, tell me
which green porch is home.

Copyright © 2006 Maggie Nelson All rights reserved
from Fugue
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission