LIVING ALONE

in troy i ripped seams 
in a bathtub of cold water
beyond the wall the kitchen window 
looked down on the ex cop’s astro turf
sanctuary, where he power-washed 
his air conditioners
each summer day

at night his jacuzzi raged 

with bubbles

the shopping cart lady pushed

her leaning tower

a man’s stabbed neck cried out through

the same light beam that bathed

my neighbor's idling truck, new country

and commercials drowning out

4 am

you wouldn’t stay with me

you didn’t like how my couch had no 

arm rests

snapped my tights and whined 

and made perfect documents and 

hated life and deemed me 

doomed  

alone i shook out and refolded all 

the piles, cut cloth, nested vessels

swept and drank and stained 

and ate tomatoes and spilled salt 

found a round mirror in the alley

to hang and watch myself

mend the wretched 

to  the fine