The Prince of Cleveland

  I wake up to a bird calling cheat, cheat, cheat. What bird are you and whom do you call? You caught me sleeping with the windows open. What sounds like footsteps in the woods— squirrels scurrying through dead leaves. Things are not what they seem. When will new leaves arrive? There is no one

after Enzo Silon Surin Some mother said to always wear a clean pair of underwear in case of emergencies in which EMTs need cut off your pants, and some other mother said dress like every outfit is your last as if the funeral walks in lockstep. I iron wrinkles from my jeans, shirts, and chinos.

in purgatory there are only beds         with blue sheets no, the walls are white                        the bathroom floors, red tile, water    slick. in purgatory. you are watching.          close your eyes. there is nothing you can do.                there is always something you can do. no the walls are white,                        the bathroom floors red. tile water